Quito, May 3 (RHC)-- An IL-96 flight of Cubana de Aviación transported 83 citizens of the Caribbean island back to Havana this Saturday.  They had been stranded in Ecuador during the global health emergency caused by COVID-19.

The Cubans remained in different provinces of that Andean nation, waiting for the resumption of commercial operations or the possibility of being able to travel through the Cuban government's efforts, to return to their families on the island.  The return was organized by the Havana embassy in Quito and its consulate, with support from the Cubana de Aviación representation in this South American country, where the company now only works with cargo issues.

Alexander Rodriguez, a diplomat in Quito, said that there are still many requests from Cubans interested in traveling to their places of origin, but on this occasion, the coordination carried out with the authorities of both countries, only allowed the transfer of those who left.   "The entire problem has not been resolved, but at least it is a relief for the people who were here and were asking us, over the last month and a half, to return to Cuba with their families," he added.

Oscar Silva, representative of Cubana de Aviación in Ecuador, said that the process was a challenge, especially in terms of organizing the flight.   "We have worked intensely.  It has been a very hard week, trying to organize the plane to leave on time, with all the requirements and compliance with health standards."