The Brazilian government began sending 48 tons of powdered milk to Cuba on Monday amid a supply crisis. Brazilian Air Force flights will deliver the food by Wednesday.
The first flight departed from Canoas Air Base in Rio Grande do Sul at 2:10 p.m. carrying part of the load. A second flight will leave Porto Alegre on Tuesday with the remainder.
The operation was coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and the National Supply Company. It was decided after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with ministers on Friday.
Brazil had already sent humanitarian aid to Cuba last year after Hurricane Melissa. The island's crisis worsened with U.S. sanctions that began in January.
