In brief
Two sailboats, Friendship and Tigger Moth, carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba have gone missing after departing from Mexico on March 20. A search and rescue mission is underway as naval teams and aircraft scour the Caribbean for the vessels, which had at least nine international crew members onboard. The Mexican navy is collaborating with maritime coordination centers from the crew members' home countries. Concerns continue over Cuba's reliance on humanitarian shipments amidst ongoing supply shortages and blackout issues.
A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies traveling from Mexico to Cuba.
Mexico has deployed naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which carried at least nine crew members, the Mexican navy said in a statement.
The vessels were 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 added.
The Mexican navy emphasized its commitment to using all available resources to find 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 hail from Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States. Mexico has contacted maritime rescue coordination centers from each country along with their diplomatic representatives.
The convoy spokesperson stated that the captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment and expressed confidence in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.
There has been no comment from the Cuban government regarding the missing boats. Earlier in the week, however, Cuba celebrated another boat that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the island.
Humanitarian aid deliveries to Cuba have gained urgency amid the country's worsening supply shortages and blackout issues, exacerbated by a U.S. energy blockade, as highlighted by the United Nations. Over 50,000 surgeries have been canceled due to these supply constraints.
