HAVANA (AP) 鈥� A ship laden with humanitarian aid from the governments of and Uruguay arrived Monday in Havana to help ease Cuba鈥檚 .
The ship, which departed from a Mexican port, includes personal hygiene items and 1,700 tons of grains, powdered milk and other food items, according to a statement published by Cuban state media.
Cuba鈥檚 food industry minister, Alberto L贸pez D铆az, said the items arrive 鈥渁t a time of great economic hardship, exacerbated by the tightening of the blockade imposed on our country by the United States government.鈥�
Tensions between the two countries have risen, with the U.S. ratcheting up pressure as it against former Cuban President Ra煤l Castro over his alleged role in the 1996 downing of four planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was defense minister at the time.
L贸pez D铆az said in a statement that Monday’s aid would be distributed 鈥渨ith the utmost responsibility and respect,鈥� prioritizing children, the elderly and vulnerable families.
Unlike other shipments publicized by Mexico鈥檚 government as a show of solidarity toward their Caribbean ally, Mexican authorities have said very little about Monday’s shipment, which arrived after weeks of heightened tensions with the U.S. government.
Mexico鈥檚 foreign relations ministry and president鈥檚 office did not immediately respond to a request for more details on Monday.
Cuba鈥檚 economic and have deepened this year after the U.S. invaded Venezuela in early January, halting critical oil shipments from the South American country.
Then in late January, threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island.
A severe gas shortage has persisted, and widespread blackouts continue across the island.
Several people in Havana gathered as the ship docked. Among them was 52-year-old Reiniel Morales.
鈥淎nything that comes in is good,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to find a way to counteract the blockade. And if there are any ships left in the world, the best thing they can do is help Cuba. Because it鈥檚 the Cuban people who are suffering.鈥�
Morales said he hasn鈥檛 received any of the previous aid that Mexico sent this year, but expects to at some point.
鈥淭he time will come when it will be my turn. I have two elderly people at home, my father and mother,鈥� he said.
Niurvis Fabre, a 52-year-old teacher, also celebrated the latest arrival of aid for Cuba.
She doesn鈥檛 expect to receive any of it given her age, but said she is content 鈥渁s long as the aid goes to the people who really need it.鈥�
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