Fuel shortages in Cuba have sparked a humanitarian crisis, with the country’s health system on the brink of a critical situation, according to a UN spokesperson. The inability to import fuel has worsened the scenario, causing an energy crisis. The United Nations, including the US, is working to ensure aid reaches Cuba without hindrance.
Hospitals in Cuba are facing challenges such as frequent power outages, shortages of essential medicines, and the inability to operate critical equipment, as highlighted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The disruptions are affecting various medical services, including oncology care, dialysis, emergency services, and infant and maternal care.
Around 16,000 cancer patients requiring radiotherapy and over 12,000 individuals dependent on chemotherapy are unable to access necessary treatments due to power outages and resource scarcities. Ambulances are struggling to secure fuel, leading to delays in providing urgent care.
The lack of fuel is also impacting water supply, with nearly one million people relying on water delivered by tanker trucks that need fuel to operate. Moreover, the country’s water-pumping infrastructure heavily dependent on electricity is experiencing widespread and prolonged service disruptions, affecting more than 80% of the system.
Food supply chains in Cuba are increasingly affected, with failures in cold-chain systems, interruptions in transport routes, and reduced availability of basic food items nationwide, as reported by OCHA. Humanitarian partners are striving to provide assistance, but the shortage of fuel is hampering the operations of food and water trucks, leading to delays in aid distribution.
The US government recently permitted the entry of some oil into Cuba, but with restrictions on sales only to the private sector and not to the government. This move follows previous restrictions on oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba, imposed by Washington.
