Fuel shortages have intensified in Cuba following U.S. actions in late January to block oil shipments. Despite a limited Russian oil consignment being allowed to dock despite U.S. interdiction, a senior United Nations official in Cuba stated on Monday that humanitarian needs remain acute and persistent. The effects of the energy shock have worsened since late March.
UN Resident Coordinator Francisco Pichon briefed journalists via video conference from New York, introducing an updated Action Plan aimed at supporting approximately two million people across eight provinces. The plan advances previous recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa, focusing on the island’s deteriorating electricity grid.
Daily Life Disrupted by Energy Shortages
The lack of sufficient fuel for three months to meet the Caribbean nation’s energy demands has pushed the humanitarian situation to a critical point. These needs were largely met by Venezuela, but U.S. sanctions following the extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January disrupted this support. The crisis was further exacerbated last month by three nationwide power outages, plunging the country into darkness for days.
This energy deficit has crippled essential services. Healthcare systems face over 96,000 pending surgeries, including 11,000 for children. The National Vaccination Program has been delayed for thousands of infants. Additionally, approximately one million people currently rely on water transportation via tankers, a service severely restricted due to a diesel shortage.
Focus on Vulnerable Populations
Pichon emphasized that the crisis is not felt equally, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups. As Cuba is the oldest country in Latin America, the UN prioritizes the protection of around 300,000 elderly citizens living alone, over 100,000 disabled individuals, and 32,000 pregnant women.
“The humanitarian consequences continue daily despite the latest fuel delivery efforts; the situation is compounded by multiple shocks,” Pichon stated. To address these needs, the UN’s presence in Cuba is emphasizing a shift towards sustainable energy backup solutions. The updated Action Plan includes solar energy installations for irrigation systems, hospitals, and schools, and strengthening water pumping infrastructure to reduce reliance on the fragile national grid.
‘Critical Window of Opportunity’
While the UN has already mobilized $26.2 million, a significant funding gap of $68 million persists. Pichon highlighted that the UN is working in close dialogue with national authorities and the private sector to identify logistical solutions to guarantee the viability of its aid operations. “We believe this is a critical window of opportunity to mobilize resources and raise awareness of the urgency.”
