A Cuban family is reaching out for assistance on social media to find Yusdel Concepción Domínguez, a young man who set off on a boat last December 24th. Since that day, no one has heard from him or the other passengers, including his wife. The family has repeatedly turned to social media throughout the year to spread the word about their search.
According to a post by Maritza Concepción Zarmiento, Yusdel's aunt, he left Cuba with other relatives on a makeshift vessel, but there has been no news about their whereabouts. "We haven't heard anything about my nephew, his wife, and the other family members traveling with them since December 24th. We are all devastated. They left young children behind in Cuba, and we desperately need help to find them. May God guide us to them," she wrote.
A woman named Yuvisleidy Santana disclosed that her husband was also on the same boat as Yusdel. Despite numerous efforts, she has received no information about them. "My love, there is no news. I've searched everywhere and found nothing," she replied in response to the plea for help.
The Risky Quest for a Better Life
Yusdel's case is one among many. Each year, scores of Cubans embark on perilous journeys across the sea in rickety boats, risking everything for a chance at a better life outside the island.
In August, reports surfaced that the treacherous sea voyage from Cuba to the United States claimed the lives of at least 142 rafters in the first eight months of 2024, according to a report from the Missing Migrants Project of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
These grim statistics, cited by EFE, are part of a broader picture, documenting a total of 291 migrants dead or missing in the Caribbean's maritime routes during the year. This represents an 18% increase compared to the 247 cases reported throughout 2023.