The well-known Open Arms sailing boat, Astral, will depart from Barcelona's Moll de la Fusta on Tuesday, 12 May, heading for Havana, Cuba. This humanitarian mission, part of the 'Rumbo a Cuba' (Heading to Cuba) initiative, involves around 20 organisations and seeks to protest the United States' blockade against the Caribbean nation.
The vessel will transport photovoltaic solar panels to ensure energy self-sufficiency for the care unit at the Juan Manuel Márquez paediatric hospital. This effort comes as Open Arms has launched a donation campaign to fund the mission. So far, over a thousand people have contributed, raising €65,000 towards a €100,000 target, according to the organisation.
Defending International Humanitarian Law
Òscar Camps, director of Open Arms, stated that in a context of blockades, such as those seen in Gaza, "it is increasingly necessary to strongly defend the basic principles of international humanitarian law." The mission underscores the organisation's commitment to providing aid in challenging geopolitical situations.
Before its transatlantic journey, the Astral will make stops at several Spanish ports. Over the next three weeks, it will visit Valencia, Málaga, Cadiz, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Solidarity events will be held at these locations to support the initiative and raise further awareness and funds.
