At least 12 Cuban migrants have died while crossing in 2024

At least 12 Cuban migrants have died during the dangerous journey to the United States since the year 2024 began.

On February 3, nine Cubans died in a tragic accident in Guatemala, a 24-year-old young man lost his life during a sea crossing and two women died suddenly in Mexico.

An article from the independent mediaThe touch addresses the issue following the accident that occurred in Guatemala at km 134.5 of the route to the Pacific, Chicacao, Suchitepéquez.

According to the report, the authorities of the Guatemalan Migration Institute managed to identify thedeceased Cuban migrants, six men and three womenbetween 23 and 57 years old.

These were identified asDaicel Arzola Herrera (Havana), Javier Pérez Toledo (Havana), Luis David Baños Lamadrid (Havana), Luisa Reinosa Castillo (Havana), Marleny Hernández Alfonso (Camagüey), Osmani Broche González (Villa Clara), Ihanosky López Pérez (Ciego from Ávila), Disney Alejandro Sandin Hernández (Santiago de Cuba) and Arletis Velázquez Ramírez (Holguín).

The agricultural truck where the Cubans were traveling, a motorcycle and a van were involved in the incident. The preliminary version indicates that the agricultural vehicle in which the migrants were packed together hit a motorcycle and later a truck.

During this event, two Guatemalans died, the driver of the motorcycle (Ronald Valentín Chanchavac, 32 years old) and the driver of the vehicle in which the migrants were traveling (Alexander López, 29 years old).

He also lost his life during a sea crossinga young man24 year old Cuban who would have started a trip on a rustic boat along with 12 other rafters who were rescued by a cruise ship near Mahahual, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

The migrants had been reported missing since December 2023 and it later emerged that the victim, Raúl Martínez Torres, had left Cuba sick and died days before the rescue.

For their part, they died suddenlydos cubanas, Jennifer Tamayo and Ailén Esquijaroza, while they waited in Mexico to complete their asylum applications to enter the United States.

The touchcounted between January 1 and February 5, 2024, 18 incidents, including disappearances, repatriation, interceptions, rescues and shipwrecks involving Cubans on maritime migratory routes and through Central America.

Despite the dangers migrants face during this process, from 2022almost 4% of the Cuban population –about 500 thousand– left the island. Since then, the exodus continues unstoppable amid serious shortages on the island and the deterioration of freedoms and citizen rights.