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| Volume 56 Number 18, June 13, 2026 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
A significant act of regional solidarity is currently making its way across the Caribbean.
On Friday, June 5, Colombia dispatched a vessel from the port of Cartagena de Indias carrying approximately 100 tons of humanitarian supplies bound for Cuba. The shipment - loaded aboard the ARC Caribe, a ship belonging to the Colombian Navy - includes non-perishable food, medications, hospital equipment, electrical materials, household items, and solar panels.
The operation was co-ordinated by Colombia's Presidential Agency for International Co-operation (APC-Colombia), acting under a directive from President Gustavo Petro. The effort brought together multiple government institutions, including the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute, the Ministry of Mines, the National Customs and Tax Authority, the National Disaster Risk Management Unit, and the Colombian Foreign Ministry.
The inclusion of solar panels carries particular weight given the ongoing energy crisis affecting the island, where daily electricity shortfalls exceed 1,500 megawatts and repeated power grid failures have disrupted essential services for millions of families.
According to APC-Colombia, the shipment responds to needs identified by Cuba's Embassy in Colombia and aims to address the lasting impact of Hurricane Melissa, as well as the broader economic and energy challenges the country continues to face.
This marks the third time Colombia has sent humanitarian assistance to Cuba in recent months - a previous air shipment was delivered in April, and 240 tons of aid were sent last November following the hurricane's initial impact.
(Facebook post)