Oil blockade and broader sanctions are worsening shortages of food, medicine and essential services across the island.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a stark warning about the humanitarian consequences of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, arguing that the measures are inflicting widespread suffering on the island’s population and placing lives at risk. He said the combination of fuel restrictions and expanded extraterritorial sanctions has deepened an already severe crisis affecting millions of Cubans.
“The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions, taken together, are directly harming Cubans, especially the most vulnerable,” Türk said, adding that “children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines” and calling for the sanctions to be lifted immediately.
The current crisis intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new coercive measures against Cuba in January. The restrictions sharply reduced the Caribbean nation’s oil reserves to historically low levels, contributing to chronic fuel shortages and daily power outages that last more than 20 hours.
In May, Washington expanded its sanctions regime by targeting private entities involved in fuel supply and companies linked to Cuba’s energy, defense, mining, finance, and security sectors.
The U.S. sanctions are having a significant impact on fundamental rights, particularly access to food, water and health care. Essential medicines are now available at only about 30% of required levels, while fuel shortages have disrupted agricultural production and transportation networks.
The resulting strain on the food supply has reportedly caused a 60% decline in food production and driven up the cost of basic goods.
The health system has been among the sectors hardest hit. Critical services, including oncology, dialysis and maternal health care, are facing severe shortages of supplies and equipment. Recent data show that infant mortality has doubled to 9.9 deaths per 1,000 births, while childhood cancer survival rates have fallen from 85% to 65% since the fuel restrictions took effect.
Türk argued that the broad scope of the sanctions raises serious concerns under international law. “Such severe sanctions packages that target entire sectors of an economy and produce broad, indiscriminate and harsh effects on populations are incompatible with basic principles of international human rights law,” he said.
He also warned that many businesses are restricting their activities beyond legal requirements because of concerns about sanctions, creating additional obstacles for humanitarian operations and commercial supply chains.
The UN official said Cuba is becoming increasingly isolated as companies withdraw, airline connections decline and access to international financial systems becomes more limited. Humanitarian agencies have also faced growing difficulties in delivering aid, with more than 2,900 metric tons of humanitarian food cargo recently affected by shipping disruptions.
“Cuba faces increasing isolation. Companies are leaving. Fewer airlines fly to the country. It is almost disconnected from international payment systems,” Türk said, warning that disease risks, hurricane season and economic deterioration are creating “a perfect storm” of hardship for the Cuban people.
He also urged businesses and institutions to avoid unnecessary disengagement and to uphold the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: OHCHR
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