The family of young Cuban recruit Daniel Quesada Morales, who was reported missing after heading to his military unit, has confirmed that he is safe and sound after several days of intense worry.
On Wednesday, Mileika Milena Milán Almeida, a close family acquaintance, expressed gratitude "first to God" and then to authorities and everyone who showed concern for Daniel's case. She also urged an end to the rumors circulating on social media about an alleged escape from military service.
The family spokesperson clarified that Daniel was not attempting to flee his service. Instead, due to the challenging economic conditions, he lacked the funds necessary to reach his military unit.
To remedy this, Daniel sought out a relative who was harvesting coffee, where he worked temporarily to earn enough money for his journey to the military unit.
“The young man turned to a family member for financial reasons... the economic situation is quite tough; his father didn't have the necessary resources," Milán detailed.
Milán further explained that the place where Daniel worked was unaware of his military service commitment, as his presence there was solely for temporary employment to gather the needed funds.
She explicitly requested: "Avoid comments, avoid malicious assumptions. The young man was not fleeing military service; he simply did not have the financial means to reach the unit."
The family expressed their relief upon confirming Daniel's safety. However, at the time of the message, it was still uncertain whether he would proceed directly to his unit or visit his parents first, a decision pending from the military authorities overseeing the case.
"We have confirmation that he is there... we still don’t know if he’ll go straight to the unit or head home first," Milán explained.
In her statement, Mileika Milena also recounted the distress the family endured in the preceding days.
Daniel, aged 19, had been missing since Monday, November 10, when he left his home in El Diamante de Santa Rita, Jiguaní municipality (Granma), en route to his unit in Aguas Claras, Holguín, but never arrived.
Despite the family and authorities' efforts, there was initially no information on his whereabouts, prompting an intense social media campaign to locate him.
Amid the uncertainty, Mileika Milena had shared a plea on social networks, clarifying that the young man’s images were posted with parental consent as a desperate measure to garner public assistance.
She emphasized that this was not a political statement but a humanitarian appeal, urging respect for the family's pain and for a community that was collectively praying for the young man.
“Please, respect this family's pain... There’s a neighborhood in distress needing information on him,” she stated at the time.
With the recruit's reappearance and confirmation of his safety, the family closed their message with repeated thanks to those who shared posts, called, wrote, and supported the search.
“Thank you, infinite thanks... We’re grateful on behalf of the family,” Mileika concluded, underscoring that this case highlights the severe economic difficulties facing many young Cubans even as they try to fulfill their military duties.
FAQs on Missing Cuban Recruit Case
Why did Daniel Quesada Morales go missing?
Daniel Quesada Morales went missing due to financial difficulties. He was unable to afford the trip to his military unit and sought temporary work to earn the necessary funds.
Was Daniel trying to escape military service?
No, Daniel was not attempting to escape military service. He was dealing with economic hardship and needed to earn money to reach his assigned unit.
How did the family confirm Daniel's safety?
The family confirmed Daniel's safety through communication with him and the authorities, who provided updates on his situation.