A humanitarian sailing vessel operated by the Spanish non-governmental organisation Open Arms arrived in Havana on Sunday evening after a voyage of more than two months from Spain, carrying more than seven tonnes of medicines, medical supplies and solar power equipment intended to support Cuba’s strained healthcare system.

The vessel, Astral, departed Barcelona in mid-May and travelled across the Atlantic, making stops including Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz and Las Palmas before reaching Cuba.

Among the cargo is photovoltaic equipment destined for Juan Manuel Márquez Paediatric Hospital in Havana, where it is intended to help provide a more reliable electricity supply during the island’s frequent blackouts. The shipment also includes medicines and other humanitarian supplies for Cuba’s healthcare sector.

The voyage formed part of the Rumbo a Cuba (“Heading to Cuba”) initiative, a humanitarian campaign involving Open Arms and supporting organisations in Spain to deliver aid to the island.

The arrival comes as Cuba faces one of its most severe economic crises in decades, with repeated nationwide power cuts, fuel shortages and difficulties importing medicines, medical equipment and other essential goods.

The country’s healthcare system, once regarded as one of the strongest in Latin America, has faced increasing pressure as shortages have affected hospitals and medical services. Doctors and healthcare workers have reported difficulties obtaining medicines, equipment and basic supplies, while electricity disruptions have added further challenges for hospitals requiring continuous power.

The causes of Cuba’s crisis remain the subject of intense political dispute.

Sanctions dispute

The Cuban government has repeatedly blamed the United States trade embargo for worsening economic conditions. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has described Washington’s sanctions policy as an “economic war” and argued that restrictions on trade, finance and imports have had a direct impact on ordinary Cubans and public services, including healthcare.

Washington rejects that interpretation. The United States says its sanctions are aimed at the Cuban government rather than the Cuban people and that humanitarian goods, including food and medicines, are exempt from the embargo.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-standing critic of Cuba’s Communist government, has argued that the island’s economic problems are primarily the result of government policies. Rubio has previously described Cuba’s leadership as a failed communist system and supported maintaining pressure on Havana over human rights and political freedoms.

Cuban authorities have countered that decades of US restrictions have made it harder for the country to access international finance, purchase goods and maintain essential services.

Open Arms and the politics of humanitarian aid

Open Arms, founded in Barcelona in 2015 by Oscar Camps, first became internationally known for rescuing migrants attempting dangerous Mediterranean crossings. The organisation says its maritime crews have saved thousands of lives, and it has since expanded its work to include humanitarian operations in areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.

The charity has also been the subject of political controversy. Some European politicians, particularly in Italy during periods of stricter migration policies, accused humanitarian rescue groups of encouraging irregular migration by operating in the Mediterranean. Open Arms has rejected those claims, arguing that it responds to people already in distress at sea and operates under international maritime obligations.

Its vessels have been involved in several disputes over migrant disembarkations, including legal cases in Italy. In 2024, Open Arms founder Oscar Camps and other members of the organisation were acquitted in a case relating to the handling of a migrant rescue operation.

The Cuba mission has also attracted different reactions.

Supporters have described the voyage as a humanitarian effort to deliver medicines and renewable energy equipment to hospitals affected by shortages and electricity problems. Critics have questioned whether aid delivered through Cuban state institutions could indirectly benefit the government of President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The arrival of Astral highlights the wider debate surrounding humanitarian assistance to Cuba: how to address urgent needs among the population while navigating the island’s long-running political and economic divisions.

Cayman focus

Just over 300 miles from Cuba, the Cayman Islands continues to monitor developments on the island, where worsening economic conditions have previously raised fears across the region of increased migration by sea. The arrival of the Astral highlights the humanitarian challenges facing Cuba, as neighbouring countries remain alert to the wider consequences of the crisis, including possible pressure on maritime borders.