The Nuestra América Convoy (NACC), a Cuban humanitarian aid mission comprised of a coalition of progressive groups, has reportedly announced plans to significantly expand and arrive in Havana by March 21.
According to NACC’s most recent press release: Latin America Report“An international coalition of activists, trade unionists, parliamentarians, humanitarian organizations and public figures… will gather at the Malecón in Havana on March 21, 2026 (to participate) in a coordinated global mobilization to provide humanitarian assistance by air, land and sea.”
The convoy was initially a maritime mission, but reportedly “grew into a coordinated convoy in the air, land and sea” as “requests to support this important mission poured in”. The appeal to join the flotilla is universal, as the NACC is calling on “all communities to collect relief supplies and converge in Havana on March 21.”
U.S. sanctions have severely limited oil supplies to the island. As a result, airlines suspended flights to Cuba due to fuel shortages, and the annual Cigar Festival, a major source of tourism and foreign currency, was postponed indefinitely due to the energy crisis caused by sanctions.
But the convoy’s main goal is to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by tightening U.S. sanctions on the island. “Hospitals have no power, ambulances have no gasoline and patients have no medication,” the NACC said.
The United Nations warned of a possible humanitarian collapse in Cuba.
Read more: As economic sanctions tightened, a humanitarian aid fleet headed to Cuba was organized.
James Schneider, a former communications adviser to British lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn and now director of communications at Progressive International, an international left-wing activist organization that is helping to coordinate the flotilla, said: Latin America Report The mission is “important.”
“United Nations experts are warning that intensive care units and emergency rooms are in danger. Trump is openly bragging about creating a humanitarian crisis,” he said.
“Millions of people around the world clearly feel the injustice of the world’s most solidarity nation being punished in this way by the United States, which is why we have received overwhelming support since announcing this mission last week.”
“That’s why we decided to expand from a single flotilla to a global convoy providing air, land and sea support. We’re excited to welcome people and support from around the world in Havana on March 21.”
The organization’s latest press release includes endorsements of the mission from Corbyn, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, co-chairs American Democratic Socialists Megan Romer and Ashik Siddique, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
Cuba has gained international recognition for its mission of solidarity. The Cuban military helped fight South Africa’s apartheid regime, more than 24,000 Cuban doctors work in 56 countries around the world, and the country has developed and exported its own COVID-19 vaccine.
But the country has come under severe criticism for its human rights record. Medical missions have been accused of promoting human rights practices such as labor exploitation. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch It accused the state of restricting freedoms, state control of the media and “arbitrary detention” of dissidents.
Featured image: Havana Malecón, where humanitarian aid convoys are scheduled to meet on March 21
Image source: Lukas Mathis via Wikimedia Commons
patent: Creative Commons License
