Miami resident and volunteers plan humanitarian trip to Cuba

Madea Benjamin is organizing hundreds of volunteers to carry about $430,000 worth of medicine (roughly 6,000 pounds) to Cuba on March 21; the trip comes as the article reports halted oil shipments to Cuba and ongoing talks between Cuba and the U.S. after 51 prisoners were announced as being released.

Madea Benjamin, a Miami resident, has recruited hundreds of volunteers and collected medical supplies for a humanitarian trip to Cuba scheduled to depart March 21. Benjamin said her group alone plans to take about $430,000 worth of medicine, roughly 6,000 pounds. The trip occurs while the article reports U.S. ships have halted oil shipments to Cuba and President Trump has threatened tariffs on countries that ship oil there. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged 51 prisoners were being released and said talks with the U.S. are underway, though he warned a broader agreement is still far off. Key details: - Organizers and timing: Madea Benjamin is leading a group of volunteers for a humanitarian trip to Cuba set to depart March 21. - Medical supplies: Benjamin said her group's shipment includes about $430,000 in medicine, estimated at 6,000 pounds. - Policy context: The article reports U.S. ships have halted oil shipments to Cuba and that President Trump has threatened tariffs on countries that ship oil there. - Venezuela link: The report states the U.S. halted Venezuela's oil shipments to Cuba after capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, and that Venezuela had been Cuba's largest supplier. - Prisoner releases and talks: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged 51 prisoners were being released and said talks with the U.S. are taking place, but an agreement is not yet close. - Views from participants: Organizers describe the trip as primarily humanitarian and also as a protest against U.S. policy; some interviewees characterized the oil measures as a way to pressure Cuba's government. Summary: The planned delivery of medical supplies is happening alongside diplomatic and economic tensions between the U.S. and Cuba. Cuban officials announced prisoner releases and reported ongoing talks with the U.S., while sources in the article say a broader agreement remains distant. The humanitarian trip remains scheduled for March 21; further diplomatic developments were described as undetermined at this time.