Colombia sends medicines and food to Cuba in response to the deep internal crisis



Flight arriving from ColombiaPhoto © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba/Facebook

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A plane loaded with medicines, medical supplies, and food took off on Tuesday from the Military Air Transport Command (Catam) air base in Bogotá, heading to Cuba, in a shipment supported by the Colombian government, social organizations, and solidarity houses.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday the arrival of the shipment via its social media channels, where it posted images of the material being unloaded on the runway of an airport.

The senator and co-chair of the Pacto Histórico, Gloria Flórez, led the shipment from Colombia and was the public figure who announced it to the media.

"The flight will be essential for continuing to weave bonds of brotherhood with the people of Cuba. Latin America and the Caribbean are ready to give their best in this act of solidarity, especially after Cuba experienced the situation of last year's hurricane and the conditions it is facing due to the reinforced unilateral measures," Flórez stated.

The senator also stated: "We are wholeheartedly committed to delivering medicines and food that can alleviate the situation we are experiencing, but above all with the solidarity that represents the kindness of the people."

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The cargo was collected by the Movimiento de Solidaridad con Cuba, labor unions, political and social organizations, solidarity houses, and the Colombian national government itself, in response to the serious situation on the island.

The shipment arrives amidst the worst recent energy and humanitarian crisis in Cuba. On Tuesday, the availability of the National Electric System was only 1,180 MW compared to a demand of 2,340 MW, with a projected deficit of 1,670 MW during peak nighttime hours.

In March 2026, there were three total collapses of the electrical grid, with power outages lasting up to 25 hours daily. The maximum deficit recorded in April reached 1,945 MW on the first of that month, which is equivalent to 55% of the national territory without electricity.

The energy crisis is compounded by a critical shortage of food and medicine, worsened by the interruption of Venezuelan oil supply following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, and the tightening of the U.S. embargo.

The UN warned in February 2026 about a to assist two million people in 63 Cuban municipalities.

This shipment represents the second Colombian solidarity action in less than a month: at the end of March, activists from the country participated in the Nuestra América Convoy, which arrived in Havana on March 21 with more than 600 activists from 38 countries and about 30 tons of supplies.

The president Gustavo Petro also confirmed on Wednesday the shipment of solar panels to Cuba, as part of the close relationship his government maintains with Havana, which includes Petro's rejection of the Summit of the Americas in December 2025 due to the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.

CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.