Colombia sends food, medical aid ship to Cuba

A ship carrying nearly 100 tonnes of food and essential supplies has arrived in Cuba from Colombia as part of ongoing international humanitarian assistance to the island, while U.S. sanctions and an energy embargo continue to strain the country’s economy.

The vessel, which departed from Cartagena in early June, entered Havana Bay early on June 13, flying the Colombian flag and was escorted by a Cuban auxiliary ship, according to officials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The Colombian Presidential Agency for International Cooperation said the shipment was dispatched on the orders of President Gustavo Petro and included non-perishable food items, medicines, hospital supplies, electrical equipment, solar panels, and other essential goods.

The cargo also included seven tonnes of donations collected by solidarity groups.

The arrival follows another aid shipment last weekend, when a vessel carrying 1,700 tonnes of essential goods from Mexico and Belize reached Havana.

The deliveries come amid heightened tensions between Havana and Washington. The United States announced sanctions on Cuba’s state-owned oil and gas company on June 11, a move expected to further pressure the island’s already strained energy sector. This followed earlier sanctions imposed on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, senior officials, and several institutions.

Cuba continues to face long-standing economic challenges under a decades-old U.S. embargo, compounded by fuel shortages and reduced energy production. The country produces roughly 40% of its domestic oil needs, leading to recurring electricity shortages and widespread power outages.

By Sabina Mammadli