The "Saturnino Lora Torres" Provincial Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital in Santiago de Cuba reported that a shipment containing over 3.5 million syringes and needles intended for the island's health system is being held at the port of Kingston, Jamaica, following the suspension of maritime services to Cuba by the French shipping company CMA CGM.
The institution made the situation public through a post on Facebook, where it explained that the materials were sent by the Spanish organization SODePAZ (Solidarity for Development and Peace) and are part of a group of containers that have not been able to reach the island.
According to the hospital, CMA CGM left dozens of containers bound for Cuba at the Jamaican port and has not provided an alternative to complete the transfer.
According to the complaint, the shipping company only offers two options: either return the cargo to the port of origin or transfer it to another transportation company, with the costs borne by the sender.
The suspension of shipments to Cuba
The situation arises after CMA CGM and the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd suspended their operations to and from Cuba in mid-May 2026.
Both companies confirmed the suspension of their services shortly after issuing internal orders to stop accepting new bookings to the island. According to sources cited by Reuters, the two companies represent a significant portion of Cuba's maritime cargo traffic.
The decision came after the entry into force of Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, which expanded sanctions against entities linked to the Cuban regime and tightened restrictions on foreign companies that engage in operations with them.
Subsequently, on May 7, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced additional sanctions against GAESA, the business conglomerate controlled by the Cuban Armed Forces, which the State Department views as a central player in the state economy.
Impact on the healthcare system
The retention of the cargo occurs at a particularly delicate time for the Cuban healthcare system, which has been struggling for years with shortages of medications, medical supplies, and disposable materials.
More than 3.5 million syringes and needles were destined for health institutions on the island, according to the publication from the Santiago hospital.
In April of this year, United Nations agencies warned about the worsening health situation in Cuba, while Cuban authorities have acknowledged difficulties in ensuring the supply of essential medicines and supplies.
U.S. sanctions include exceptions for medicines and humanitarian aid. However, financial and logistical restrictions have complicated the operations of numerous companies and organizations seeking to send supplies to the island.
So far, CMA CGM has not publicly announced a date to resume its services to Cuba nor a solution for the containers that remain stranded in Kingston.
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