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The Government of Mexico sent a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba on Tuesday, consisting of nearly 1,200 tons of supplies, transported by two ships of the Mexican Navy that departed from the port of Veracruz bound for the island.
According to the official statement, the shipment is being made “in compliance with the instruction of Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, constitutional president of the United Mexican States,” and aims to support the Cuban civilian population.
The Secretary of the Navy reported that "on Tuesday, the Logistic Support Vessels Papaloapan and Huasteco departed from the port of Veracruz with a total of 1,193 tons of provisions intended for the civilian population of the island of Cuba."
What foods are included in the shipment?
The bulk of the aid consists of essential food items.
According to the statement itself:
The ship ARM Papaloapan is transporting 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk.
The ship ARM Huasteco is carrying an additional 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of various food items.
Regarding this last batch, the Mexican government detailed that "these 23 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered by various social organizations with the support of the Government of Mexico City at the collection center set up in the Historic Center, and it corresponds to a first delivery."
That is to say, in addition to the main shipment funded and organized by the Mexican state, part of the food comes from donations channeled through collection campaigns in the capital of that country.
Naval operation and transfer
For the logistical operation, more than 350 naval units were mobilized, in addition to a crane and five forklifts for the loading and unloading of cargo.
The estimated travel time by sea is four days.
The statement emphasizes that "the people of Mexico keep alive their tradition of solidarity with the peoples of Latin America and, in particular, with the people of Cuba," and recalls that in recent months the country has also provided aid to other nations affected by natural disasters.
Second shipment in February
This is the second shipment of humanitarian aid sent to Cuba in February.
The first one, which arrived in Havana on February 12, weighed 814 tons.
The new shipment comes amid the deep economic crisis facing the island, characterized by blackouts, fuel shortages, a semi-paralyzed transportation system, and a sustained increase in prices.
The dispatch of these ships takes place as the government of Claudia Sheinbaum engages in talks with Washington to attempt to resume oil shipments to Cuba.
For now, Mexican support is focused on basic food items: beans, powdered milk, and other essential supplies totaling nearly 1,200 tons, intended—according to the Mexican government—for the Cuban civilian population.
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