Interior Trade Minister Betsy Díaz and President Miguel Díaz-Canel have thanked both countries for their support of the Island.
EFE/14ymedio, Havana, June 8, 2026 / Cuba received a donation of 1,700 tons of food and other basic necessities this Sunday from Mexico and Belize, intended to help alleviate the shortages affecting most of the Island’s population as a result of the energy and economic crisis.
State media reported that the commercial vessel Asian Katra arrived at the Port of Havana carrying the humanitarian aid shipment as a “demonstration of cooperation and solidarity from the governments and peoples of Mexico and Belize.”
They also indicated that solidarity organizations supporting Cuba, Cuban residents in both countries, and a campaign launched by the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, among other participants, contributed to “managing, organizing, and assembling” the operation.
Upon receiving the donation, Interior Trade Minister Betsy Díaz highlighted Mexico’s “unconditional and historic” assistance and thanked the authorities, public figures, and organizations of both nations for their support of the Island.
Solidarity organizations supporting Cuba, Cuban residents in both countries, and a campaign launched by the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, among other participants, contributed to “managing, organizing, and assembling” this operation
President Miguel Díaz-Canel also expressed his gratitude on social media. “The ship carrying 1,700 tons of food and supplies from Mexico and Belize is now in Havana. An effort by both governments, solidarity groups, Cubans residing in those sister nations, and La Jornada. We are grateful for this embrace of solidarity in such difficult times. #CubaNoEstáSola [#CubaIsNotAlone],” he posted.
In recent years, Mexico has established itself as one of Cuba’s most active regional partners in humanitarian assistance, sending fuel shipments and several cargoes of essential goods.
The arrival of this shipment adds to other aid operations received from Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, United Nations agencies, and a shipment sent by Colombia, which has announced that it is currently en route to the Island.
In March and April, the Convoy Nuestra América, made up of activists from several countries in Europe, Mexico, and the United States, also delivered several tons of food, medical supplies, solar panels, photovoltaic systems, and educational materials.
The Island, already burdened by six years of deep economic crisis, is now virtually paralyzed by fuel shortages, from hospitals to gas stations, and from public transportation to state-run enterprises, with medicine shortages, high inflation, partial dollarization, and blackouts that affect large regions of the country for more than 20 hours a day.
Translated by Regina Anavy
______________________
COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.