Spanish NGO delivers solar equipment and medical supplies to strengthen critical services at a pediatric hospital in Cuba.

The sailing vessel Astral, operated by the Spanish humanitarian organization Open Arms, arrived at the Port of Havana on Sunday carrying seven tons of humanitarian aid for the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital.

RELATED: Ortega Backs Cuba, Venezuela on Sandinista Anniversary

The shipment is part of the “Heading to Cuba” campaign, organized by Open Arms together with more than 150 political and social organizations. After departing from Barcelona in May, the vessel completed a 6,200-mile voyage transporting solar panels, replacement batteries and medical supplies.

According to the organization, the mission was funded through contributions from more than 4,000 donors, raising over €160,000 (US$182,816).

The equipment is intended to provide energy autonomy for the hospital’s intensive care unit, intermediate care unit and clinical laboratory.

Speaking during the welcoming ceremony, Open Arms founder and director Óscar Camps said the initiative was intended to highlight the humanitarian consequences of the United States blockade on Cuba.

“This is a humble contribution made by the organization with the support of the Spanish people.”

Expressing solidarity with Cubans, Camps added: “You resist and endure an inhumane blockade. You are the true heroes, and the message I bring from my country to the Cuban people is that you are not alone. This is only the beginning, and we hope others will follow this example.”

Referring to the U.S. economic and energy blockade on the island, he said: “We are living through a very difficult moment because of a flagrant violation of international law, human rights and international agreements.”

O barco Astral de @openarms @rumboacuba está a punto de entrar en Cuba. É o primeiro barco da campaña de solidariedade intermacionalista que cruza o Atlántico.para romper o bloqueo. #Cubanonestásoa
Imos a esperalo co cantautor Silvio Rodríguez pic.twitter.com/nCQbyG7Yxy

— Ana Miranda (@anamirandapaz) July 19, 2026

Text Reads:The Astral boat of @openarms @rumboacuba is about to enter Cuba. It’s the first boat of the internationalist solidarity campaign that crosses the Atlantic to break the blockade. #Cubanonestásoa
We’re going to wait for it with singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez

Camps also said the mission seeks to “give some visibility to the problem Cuba is facing” and expressed hope that it would “generate empathetic responses from other organizations willing to collaborate and do the same.”

The arrival of the Astral follows the “Nuestra América Convoy,” which departed from Mexico in March carrying 14 tons of solar panels, medicines and food to Cuba to help mitigate the effects of the U.S. embargo and the country’s energy crisis.

From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.