In recent weeks, hundreds of Cubans have been stranded in Havana after their flights to Nicaragua were cancelled, the destination they were seeking to begin their journey to the United States. The testimonies of those affected reflect deep anguish and their economic loss.
“I sold my house, I sold everything I had. This flight left us here and now I also miss all the connections from Bogota to San Salvador and from there to Managua. Who is going to give me my money back?” Elisa told the editorial team. Marti NewsShe was a passenger on the low-cost airline Wingo.
As is known, the airline, at the last minute, demanded a visa requirement incompatible with Colombian immigration law, leaving Elisa and many others in a desperate situation.
The victim adds about her difficult situation: “I spent $1900 on those tickets. How much are they going to give me back? Nothing is going to give me back everything I spent, what I sold, the job I lost because I worked for the State and I left everything because I was leaving the country.
Cubans journey through Central America
Most of these travelers planned to continue from Colombia to Nicaragua and then cross Central America to reach the United States, where more than half a million Cubans have requested asylum in the last two years.
According to the information provided, Wingo wanted to return the money corresponding to the Havana-Bogotá ticket, but many believe that it is only a part of the thousands of dollars they invested in their attempt to emigrate.
Meanwhile, U.S. Undersecretary of Homeland Security Blas Núñez Neto said the U.S. government has asked airlines and countries in the region not to allow the irregular flow of immigrants to Nicaragua.
“We have been talking with all the governments and airlines that work in the region to discuss with them the challenge we are facing with the authorities in Managua,” Núñez Neto told Martí Noticias.
Thousands of Cubans seeking to reach the southern border of the United States use the Havana-Bogotá, Bogotá-San Salvador and San Salvador-Managua routes.
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