Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico to Cuba finally reached Havana on Saturday after disappearing en route leading to days of searching for the missing vessels.
In the Cuban capital, the crew of nine which included a four-year-old boy along with American, French and German citizens appeared to be in good health and spirits.
The boats had left Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, last week and were bound for Havana, carrying the final shipments of Nuestra America Convoy.
The vessels were transporting aid to the Caribbean’s island nation, amid biting shortages triggered by a tightened US embargo. They were due to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday but failed to reach the island, prompting a search and rescue mission.
What did the crew say?
Adnaan Stumo, the 33-year-old American coordinator of the sailing convoy, apologized for causing people to worry about them.
“We were never in any real danger,” Stumo said. “It was not a very difficult journey. It’s just a circuitous journey.”
“We’re so happy to bring a crew from so many different countries that are demonstrating solidarity and support for the Cuban people in the face of this criminal blockade,” Stumo said.
The ships arrived at port to greetings by scores of Cubans, including government officials, chanting “long live the revolution!” and “down with imperialism!”
What else do we know about the located aid boats?
On Saturday, the Mexican Navy said the sailboats were spotted by a maritime surveillance aircraft some 80 nautical miles (roughly 148 kilometers) northwest of Cuba.
The Reuters news agency cited them as saying they were slowed by unfavorable weather conditions.
A Mexican ship escorted them to Havana to ensure their safe arrival in the Cuban capital, the Mexican Navy said.
Stumo later said the sailors were not worried at all but added that they are grateful that the Mexican Navy came looking for them.
“The Convoy remains on track to complete its mission — delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people,” a spokesperson for the Nuestra America Convoy told Reuters.
The Nuestra America (Our America in Spanish) is a coalition of some 300 organizations representing over 30 countries. The coalition has delivered some 20 tons of aid to Cuba by air and by sea. The goods transported include food, medicine, solar panels and bicycles.
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Why does Cuba need aid?
US President Donald Trump imposed a de facto oil blockade on Cuba in January, after capturing and ousting Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump also threatened countries providing Cuba with oil with tariffs.
On Friday, the US president renewed his threats. Despite the US still deeply engaged in a war with Iran, Trump said that “Cuba is next.”
Cuba’s economy faces a future without Venezuela’s oil
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Edited by: Darko Janjevic and Wesley Dockery
