"Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel met members of the 'Nuestra America' convoy on Friday and thanked them for their support as Cuba continues to grapple with the impact of the US embargo. Footage filmed on Friday showed Diaz-Canel addressing activists from the international flotilla at Havana's Palace of the Revolution in a celebratory atmosphere. He thanked the foreign activists and delegates for their support for the island. "You have embraced us with your presence here and with the words you have shared, in a show of solidarity, friendship, affection, understanding, sensitivity and humanism," he said. The meeting came after members of the international 'Nuestra America' convoy arrived in Cuba with food and medicines for the population amid a crisis worsened by fuel shortages. The Cuban government has largely blamed the situation on the US embargo, which has been in place for more than 60 years, as well as renewed diplomatic tensions with Washington. At the event, some international representatives said the initiative was a direct response to the sanctions. "What is happening here is a crime, a daily genocide. That is why we took the joint decision to organise this initiative and to put our faces and our bodies on the line against this genocidal blockade," said Roberto Forte, Vice President of the Agency for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba. The event also featured international political figures such as Spanish politician Pablo Iglesias, who emphasised the importance of foreign presence in drawing global attention to the situation on the island. "The existence of the flotilla and the meetings taking place help bring attention to Cuba and to the suffering that the Cuban people are experiencing as a result of a terrorist policy by the United States," said Pablo Iglesias. The solidarity convoy is expected to continue its activities on the island in the coming days, including community meetings and the distribution of supplies."