CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Pastors for Peace Crosses US Border into Mexico

CUBA, July 21, 2010.- Ellen P. Bernstein, member of Pastors for Peace’s board of directors, said in Havana that the 21st friendshipment caravan heading to Cuba crossed the U.S. border into Mexico today.

The caravan, organized by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) carries over 100 tons of humanitarian aid for the Cuban people and it is dedicated this year to the Cuban children, Bernstein told ACN, at the “William Carey” Baptist Church, in Vedado, Havana.

After talking via telephone with Reverend Lucius Walker, IFCO/Pastors for Peace leader, Bernstein said US immigration and customs officials thoroughly searched the car and all nine buses that make up the caravan and tried to seize some of the donations.

Rev. Lucius Walker told Bernstein that US-customs seized at least five of 19 computers the caravanistas were bringing to Cuba. He said the aid collected by the group includes school items, medical equipments and medicines, sports items and construction tools.

The first Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan traveled to Cuba in 1992 and ever since then, caravanistas have traveled to the island every year carrying humanitarian aid in defiance of Washington’s economic, commercial and financial blockade against the island.

This year's group is made up of 85 Cuba friends from 21 American states, Mexico, Canada, England and Germany. (Cubaminrex - ACN)