The sailing vessel Astral, operated by the Spanish NGO Open Arms, docked in Havana's port on Sunday after completing a journey lasting more than two months from Barcelona. The ship carried seven tons of humanitarian aid earmarked for a pediatric hospital in Cuba's capital, as reported by the Associated Press.
Departing Barcelona on May 11, the vessel made stops in Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria before crossing the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, covering roughly 6,200 nautical miles en route to Cuba.
The shipment consisted of photovoltaic solar panels, batteries, medications, and medical supplies, designated for the Intensive Care Unit, intermediate care, and clinical laboratory of Havana's Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital.
Led by Óscar Camps, Open Arms' founder, the mission titled "Rumbo a Cuba" included Camps throughout the voyage. Accompanying him was Miguel Urbán, co-founder of the Podemos Party and former Member of the European Parliament, who led a political delegation that traveled by air.
Upon arrival, Camps criticized U.S. oil sanctions, stating, "It is criminal that a hospital's operations can be halted due to a political decision."
European Parliament member Ana Miranda Paz from BNG, part of the political delegation, said the goal was to "express our support to the Cuban people amid their current situation."
The Astral was welcomed at the port by Cuban party and government authorities, along with members of the delegation already present in Havana.
The planned itinerary includes meetings with leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, National Assembly officials, and singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez.
According to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the fundraising campaign collected over 17,000 euros, dedicated entirely to the pediatric hospital, supported by more than 150 Spanish political, social, and labor organizations, including EH Bildu, Sumar, Esquerra Republicana, Compromís, and Ecologistas en Acción.
This mission is part of a series of international leftist flotillas visiting the island, which began in March with the "Nuestra América" Flotilla—bringing around 50 tons of aid and 500 to 650 activists—and was followed in April by the "Primero de Mayo" convoy.
These actions have sparked criticism among Cubans both domestically and abroad, who dismiss them as "ideological tourism." Journalist Yoani Sánchez encapsulated this sentiment succinctly: "Go do ideological tourism somewhere else. We are suffering here."
On social media, Cubans have responded to these flotillas with skepticism, commenting with phrases like "I see a lot of mouths and little food" or "The public doesn't even see that," questioning whether the aid truly reaches those in dire need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
What kind of aid did the Astral carry to Cuba?
The Astral brought seven tons of humanitarian aid, including photovoltaic solar panels, batteries, medications, and medical supplies for Havana's Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital.
Who led the "Rumbo a Cuba" mission?
The mission was led by Óscar Camps, the founder of Open Arms, with the support of Miguel Urbán, co-founder of the Podemos Party.
What criticism has been raised regarding these humanitarian missions?
Critics, including journalist Yoani Sánchez, argue that the missions amount to "ideological tourism" and question whether the aid reaches those truly in need.