The central Cuban province of Cienfuegos began receiving humanitarian aid this week from Mexico, consisting of basic food supplies intended for vulnerable populations, Cuban state television reported on Wednesday (March 25).

The donations, including canned goods, grains, and cooking oil, will be distributed to schools, healthcare centers, orphanages, and vulnerable age groups, according to authorities.

It marks the fourth shipment of aid from Mexico, delivered via Mexican Navy vessels, with a fifth shipment en route aboard a ship that departed from Veracruz on Monday (March 23).

In addition to food, the aid includes medical supplies and hygiene products, as confirmed by Cuba's Ministry of Domestic Trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump began taking measures to block oil from reaching the Caribbean island after Washington deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Venezuela had previously provided oil to its close ally on favorable terms.

Since then, Trump has cut off Venezuelan exports to Cuba and threatened other countries with punitive tariffs if they sell oil to the island.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Cuban province receives Mexican humanitarian aid as US oil blockade bites

VIDEO SHOWS: FORKLIFT OPERATING TO MOVE AID BOXES RECEIVED FROM MEXICO / BOXES CONTAINING PRODUCTS IN A WAREHOUSE / SOUNDBITE FROM COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF A WHOLESALE COMPANY FOR FOOD PRODUCTS AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS IN CIENFUEGOS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CIENFUEGOS, CUBA (RELEASED MARCH 25, 2026) (CUBAN GOVERNMENT TV – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF A FORKLIFT OPERATING TO MOVE AID BOXES

2. BOXES CONTAINING PRODUCTS IN A WAREHOUSE

3. WORKER PULLING A LOAD OF BOXES IN SHIPPING CONTAINER

4. PACKAGE OF COOKIES RESTING ON A BOX

5. PACKAGE OF POWDERED CHOCOLATE RESTING ON A BOX

6. VARIOUS SHOTS OF RETAIL WORKERS INVENTORYING BOXES

7. PACKAGE OF CRACKERS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF A WHOLESALE COMPANY FOR FOOD PRODUCTS AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS IN CIENFUEGOS, NELDO IZQUIERDO, SAYING [SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER IMAGE OF A PERSON COUNTING BOXES AND PRODUCT BOXES]:

“That is to say: children aged 0 to 2, 2 to 6, or 0 to 13; people over 65; vulnerable families; pregnant women, various age groups (referring to: priority groups for the distribution of humanitarian aid). It is a task we must organize very carefully to ensure there are no errors during distribution. The census (the population registry used to allocate aid) is based on the data from December 30th; that is the specific census record that will be used for the deliveries.”

9. PERSON WORKING ON INVENTORY

10. WORKERS INSPECTING BOXES

11. BOTTLE OF VEGETABLE OIL ON A BOX

12. WORKERS ORGANIZING BOXES INSIDE A CONTAINER

13. CAN OF VEGETABLES

14. FORKLIFT OPERATOR