Aid convoys deliver food, medicine and solar gear to Cuba as blackouts intensify
International convoys began delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba this week as the island endures widespread blackouts fueled by a deepening energy crisis, according to media reports and local authorities. Organizers say the shipments include food, medical supplies and solar equipment, with delegations expected to converge in Havana on Saturday to hand over materials to local organizations.
The first members of an international convoy arrived in Havana on Wednesday with initial deliveries as part of a mission expected to bring more than 20 tons of aid in the coming days. Food shipments from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico and Turkey are part of the effort.
Organizers said at least $500,000 in solar energy materials from organizations based in the United States, along with additional panels sent from Colombia, will be prioritized for hospitals and clinics affected by prolonged outages. Additional delegations are moving medical cargo.
A team from Milan, Italy, is transporting more than 4 tons of medical supplies, while a Brazilian delegation is contributing about half a ton.
The initiative has drawn support from lawmakers, labor leaders, activists and public figures in several countries, with participants or advocates including former Spanish political leader Pablo Iglesias, climate activist Greta Thunberg and former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, according to organizers.
Governments in the region have also announced assistance. Brazil confirmed the delivery of 20,800 tons of food as humanitarian aid, according to regional media reports, alongside agricultural supplies funded by the government and coordinated through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency.
Brazil’s Minister of Agrarian Development, Paulo Teixeira, said the resources are intended to support food supply amid fuel shortages. In Europe, an initial shipment of five tons of medical supplies and essential equipment also arrived in Havana on Wednesday, including medicines and hospital materials.
Energy support is increasing as well. Media reports say ships carrying 27,000 tons of fuel and other cargo with up to 100,000 tons of crude oil are heading to Cuba, with arrivals expected starting Monday. The assistance comes as Cuba experiences severe grid instability: on Monday, the National Electric System collapsed completely, marking the sixth nationwide blackout in roughly 18 months.
Earlier this month, a massive outage left about two-thirds of the country without electricity. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said last week the country has not received “a single fuel shipment” in more than three months. The shortages have led to food spoilage from lack of refrigeration, disruptions to water supply and limits on hospital services.
The crisis has intensified following interruptions to supplies from Venezuela, historically Cuba’s main oil provider. Some aid began arriving in February. Mexico dispatched more than 800 tons of food and basic supplies in multiple shipments, and Brazilian organizations sent medicines to Cuban hospitals.
Chile also announced the delivery of humanitarian aid, though it did not specify volumes. Organizers say aid groups plan to continue deliveries in the coming days as convoys assemble in Havana. They emphasize that much of the equipment, particularly solar systems and medical supplies, will be directed to facilities most affected by the rolling blackouts.