Belize

Executive summary

Cuba's medical mission to Belize began in 1999 under the Programa Integral de Salud and Operación Milagro, remaining active for 27 years, though as of March 2026 Belizean authorities have initiated a formal review and contingency plan questioning its future. Reported personnel figures fluctuate across sources—92, 94, and 102—suggesting inconsistent official reporting rather than transparent tracking. Documented labor violations include passport retention, absence of formal contracts, forced confinement, mandatory 64-hour workweeks, and surveillance among peers. Personnel are also compelled toward political attendance and enforced loyalty displays. These are not volunteers but state-controlled labor, silenced by fear. Behind every statistic lies a passport withheld and a voice suppressed.

Mission data

Research profile