Mexico's navy said it had activated a search-and-rescue operation in the Caribbean to locate two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after the vessels failed to arrive in Havana.
The catamarans, named Friendship and Tigger Moth, set sail from Isla Mujeres in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on 20 March, carrying nine crew members of Polish, French, Cuban, and American nationality.
They were expected to arrive in Havana between 24 and 25 March, but no contact has been made, and there has been no confirmation that they reached their destination.
Mexico’s navy said on Thursday that it had deployed naval teams and military aircraft to locate the missing boats. It has also coordinated with maritime rescue centres in Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States, as well as diplomatic representatives from the countries of the crew members.
“The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment,” a spokesperson for the aid convoy, Nuestra America, said. “We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews’ ability to reach Havana safely.”
The missing boats are part of a wider grassroots effort to deliver aid to Cuba, which has been facing prolonged power outages and a deepening economic crisis following tightened U.S. sanctions on oil and other goods.
Volunteers in Mexico last week loaded the convoy with rice, beans, baby formula, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Earlier in the week, another vessel from the convoy, dubbed Granma 2.0, successfully reached Havana carrying 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including solar panels, food, bicycles, and medicines. The arrival was widely celebrated in Cuba.
Cuba has increasingly relied on humanitarian shipments from Mexico since the U.S. fuel embargo began in January, which has contributed to nationwide blackouts and critical shortages.
The United Nations has warned of “dire” supply shortages, with more than 50,000 surgeries cancelled due to electricity constraints.
There has been no comment so far from the Cuban government regarding the missing boats. Meanwhile, U.S.-Cuba tensions continue, with recent statements from U.S. officials and Cuban leaders highlighting the ongoing strain in relations.
The Mexican navy has pledged to use all available resources to locate the vessels and ensure the safety of the crew.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a ...
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces stru...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israe...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, its defence minister said on Thursday, citing a range significantly higher than U.S. President Donald Trump's recent assertion that Pyongyang has 57 nuclear weapons.
Russian ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has killed at least sixteen people and injured more than forty others, Ukrainian officials said, with fires reported across the city and Poland activating defensive air operations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment