Humanitarian Aid Flotilla Departs Mexico for Crisis-Hit Cuba
A humanitarian flotilla carrying over 20 tons of essential supplies has set sail from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula toward Cuba, as the island continues to face a deepening energy crisis linked to restrictions on oil imports.
The vessels departed from the port of Progreso in southeastern Mexico, located less than 800 kilometers from Havana across the Gulf of Mexico. They are expected to arrive in Cuba’s capital within the coming days, delivering urgently needed aid including food, medical supplies, and basic energy equipment.
The main ship in the convoy, a 75-foot fishing vessel named Granma 2.0, is transporting a wide range of humanitarian goods.
Volunteers spent several hours preparing and loading the cargo, which includes:
- Rice, beans, and canned food
- Baby formula and hygiene products
- Medicines and medical kits
The shipment also contains 73 solar panels, along with batteries and flashlights, aimed at helping communities cope with ongoing electricity shortages.
The flotilla includes dozens of volunteers, as well as around 30 participants from countries across Latin America, Europe, and the United States.
It forms part of the “Nuestra América” initiative, a non-government campaign encouraging global support for Cuba. The initiative calls on individuals and organizations worldwide to send aid by sea, air, and land to a central distribution point on the island.
Organizers say that support for the campaign has been growing in recent weeks as awareness of the situation increases.
Additional boats are expected to depart from Isla Mujeres, further expanding the scale of the effort. Cuban authorities have also confirmed that aid shipments from Europe have already begun arriving.
Cuba is currently experiencing a severe energy and economic crisis, largely driven by a sharp reduction in fuel supplies. The country depends heavily on imported oil, particularly from Venezuela and Mexico, and recent disruptions have significantly reduced availability.
In recent months, tightened U.S. measures targeting oil shipments have further restricted supply, contributing to widespread shortages and blackouts across the island.
As fuel supplies have declined, Cuba has faced frequent power outages, reduced industrial activity, and delays in transportation and logistics.
Ports and shipping operations have also been impacted, with limited fuel slowing vessel movements, cargo handling, and inland distribution.