At least 50 Cubans have been stranded for several days at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, following the cancellation of their flight to Nicaragua.
"We've been here for three days. Due to issues in Havana caused by a storm, our flight was delayed by two hours. By the time we got here, our connecting flight had already left, and the airline refuses to accommodate us on another plane," explained Cuban dissident Midaisy Marrero Gil, who is among the stranded group, to journalist Mario Pentón of Martí Noticias.
Marrero Gil highlighted that, having exceeded the 24-hour transit period allowed by Peruvian immigration authorities, they now face the risk of deportation back to Cuba. Each Cuban paid $2,800 for the plane ticket to Managua, which never materialized.
The Cuban activist also described the food situation as problematic, given the high costs of products within the airport. "An apple costs $2.50," she mentioned. "We are sleeping on benches, and when we can't take it anymore, we lay on the floor," said the woman, who is traveling with her two children.
She added that despite having overstayed their legal time at the airport, the next flight to Cuba doesn't leave until July 25. "During all this time, the airline takes no responsibility," she noted.
"It's very difficult to find ourselves in this situation with no one to support us," she lamented.
Flight cancellations to Nicaragua have been increasingly frequent in recent months, leaving Cuban travelers without the guarantees to reclaim the money invested in their journey out of the island.
At the end of June, Cuban passengers planning to travel to Nicaragua with a stopover in Caracas, Venezuela, protested at the entrance of Havana's José Martí International Airport after their flight was canceled without prior notice.
Recently, a viral video showed dozens of Cuban travelers demanding that low-cost airline Wingo allow them to board a flight to Bogotá, Colombia, during a protest at the Havana airport. "We want to fly," the passengers chanted to airline and airport officials after Wingo imposed a "visitor visa" requirement for Cubans to transit through Colombia.
Moreover, visible opposition figures of the regime lack guarantees of safe entry into Nicaragua, an ally of Cuba. Recently, the regime of dictator Daniel Ortega denied entry to Cuban activist and independent journalist Yoel Acosta Gámez and his wife, Alisanni Lores Furones, as they attempted to travel from Uruguay to Nicaragua.
This was reported by the non-governmental organization Cubalex in a social media post, which informed about the entry ban imposed by Nicaraguan immigration authorities.
In the midst of the worst migration crisis in the country's history, Cubans have no avenues to protest, claim, or demand refunds for their tickets from airlines or travel agencies, whether inside or outside the country. Instead of supporting their claims, the regime's authorities respond with repression or agreements that harm their citizens.
Questions Regarding Stranded Cubans in Peru
In light of the situation involving stranded Cubans in Peru, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why were the Cubans stranded in Peru?
The Cubans were stranded in Peru due to the cancellation of their connecting flight to Nicaragua, which was delayed because of a storm in Havana.
What are the risks faced by the stranded Cubans?
Having overstayed the 24-hour transit period allowed by Peruvian immigration authorities, the stranded Cubans face the risk of deportation back to Cuba.
What are the living conditions like for the stranded Cubans at the airport?
The living conditions are challenging, with high food costs and inadequate sleeping arrangements, as they are forced to sleep on benches or the floor.
What has been the response of the airline and authorities?
The airline has taken no responsibility for the situation, and there has been no support from authorities, leaving the stranded Cubans without any backing.