The United Nations human rights chief has reported that United States sanctions against Cuba are pushing the country towards a humanitarian catastrophe, resulting in the deaths of children. The official stated that the sanctions severely restrict Cuba’s access to essential services.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized in a statement that the economic sanctions imposed by the US on Cuba are worsening the humanitarian situation in the country. Türk noted that these sanctions impede access to basic necessities such as food, medicine, and medical supplies, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations, particularly children.
“The sanctions are profoundly impacting Cuba’s healthcare system and food security. We have concerns that the rise in child mortality is directly linked to the sanctions,” Türk said. He also called on the international community to ease or lift the sanctions against Cuba.
The UN official added that the humanitarian impacts of the sanctions need to be urgently assessed and that access to basic human rights for the Cuban people must be guaranteed. The statement also raised questions about whether the sanctions align with global human rights standards.
