A Pair of Cuba-bound Aid Ships Declared Lost following Leaving Mexican Waters.
A comprehensive rescue and recovery operation is actively in progress in the Caribbean region for a pair of unlocated boats carrying humanitarian supplies journeying from the Mexican coast to Havana.
Naval Search Missions Launched
Authorities in Mexico has sent naval teams and reconnaissance aircraft to search for the missing boats, which were carrying a minimum of nine crew members, per a navy statement.
The vessels had been scheduled to reach Cuba's capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said.
Background of Humanitarian Support to the Island
The island nation has leaned on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation struggles through multiple national electricity failures.
"The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and both vessels are equipped with suitable safety equipment and emergency beacons," an official associated with the mission said.
The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Officials said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.
"We are co-operating fully with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the ability of the crews to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added.
Earlier Humanitarian Mission
Just days before, the Cuban authorities publicly celebrated and warmly received another boat that had transported 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the nation.
That boat, called "Granma 2.0" in reference to the vessel in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to start the revolution in the mid-20th century, carried solar equipment, medicines, formula milk, cycles and foodstuffs.
Larger Political Backdrop
Volunteers and NGOs have largely spearheaded efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the Communist-run nation began.
International organizations have since warned of ""severe" lack of essential goods, with more than 50,000 surgical procedures cancelled in Cuba because of electricity supply constraints.
Political tensions have intensified lately, with statements from different leaders highlighting the delicate nature of relations.
Reacting to previous proposals, a high-ranking official from Cuba stated firmly that "the socialist system of Cuba is non-negotiable."
Indications suggest that preliminary steps of negotiations were initiated, although their current progress remains unclear.
The maritime authorities stated it was dedicated to using the full extent of its capabilities at its command to find the vessels and ensure the safety of the people on board.
To date, there has been silence on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.
