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A ship laden with humanitarian aid from the governments of Mexico and Uruguay arrived Monday in Havana to help ease Cuba’s spiralling crisis.
AP reports that the ship, which departed from a Mexican port, includes personal hygiene items and 1,700 tons of grains, powdered milk and other food items, according to a statement published by the Cuban state media.
Cuba’s food industry minister, Alberto Lopez Diaz, said the items arrive “at a time of great economic hardship, exacerbated by the tightening of the blockade imposed on our country by the United States government.”
Tensions between the two countries have risen, with the US ratcheting up pressure as it seeks an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro over his alleged role in the 1996 downing of four planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was the defence minister at the time.
Lopez Diaz said in a statement that Monday’s aid would be distributed “with the utmost responsibility and respect,” prioritizing children, the elderly and vulnerable families.
