A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies travelling from Mexico to Cuba. Mexico has deployed naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine crew members, the Mexican navy said in a statement. The vessels had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their arrival, the navy said. The Mexican navy said it was committed to using all available resources to locate the boats and ensure the safety of the crews. The two missing ships departed Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on March 20. The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba, and the U.S. Mexico has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from each country along with their diplomatic representatives. The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment, the convoy's spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely. There has been no comment on the missing boats by the Cuban government. Earlier, Cuba celebrated another boat that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including solar panels and food. Since January, volunteers and NGOs have led efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba, which is facing dire supply shortages amidst ongoing electricity and fuel constraints.
Missing Cuba-Bound Aid Ships Spark Urgent Search and Rescue
Missing Cuba-Bound Aid Ships Spark Urgent Search and Rescue
Two sailboats, Friendship and Tigger Moth, are missing while carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba from Mexico, prompting a large-scale search operation involving military and naval teams.
A search is underway for two sailboats, Friendship and Tigger Moth, that went missing on their way to Cuba while carrying humanitarian supplies. Deployed by activists from the Nuestra America Convoy, the ships left Mexico on March 20 with nine crew members from various countries. The Mexican Navy is utilizing its resources for the search and has lost communication with the vessels, which were expected to arrive in Havana shortly. The situation highlights the ongoing humanitarian challenges Cuba is facing amid supply shortages exacerbated by international policies.
