The UN called upon the international community April 6 to provide immediate support for Cuba amid a worsening humanitarian crisis caused by a US-imposed oil blockade and compounded by the effects of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the country in October 2025.

The UN resident coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichon, said the humanitarian situation has reached a critical point following the US oil blockade imposed in January. He added that the population remains in need of urgent humanitarian aid despite an oil shipment from Russia in late March.

Pichon explained that Cuba has faced a fuel shortage since December, which has prevented it from meeting its national energy needs. Disruption of the country's electricity system further exacerbated the crisis, resulting in interruptions of essential services like health care and water access. Electricity shortages have forced medical authorities to postpone over 96,000 surgeries and delayed immunization for thousands of children. Officials also noted that vulnerable groups, including elderly citizens, people with disabilities, and women, were the most affected by the humanitarian crisis.

Decreases in available energy, combined with the destruction from Hurricane Melissa, have significantly hindered humanitarian assistance from the UN and its partners. In response, the UN created a targeted Action Plan to address the urgent needs of Cubans, focusing on delivering humanitarian aid in priority sectors such as health care, water, sanitation, and food security.

However, the effectiveness of the plan depends on access to fuel and energy in order to ensure timely and effective distribution of aid and continued operation of vital services. To address this, the Action Plan includes steps to transition toward sustainable energy sources and reduce oil dependence, such as the installation of solar power and the reinforcement of water pumping infrastructure.

Lastly, Pichon said the UN continues to cooperate with national authorities and the private sector in Cuba to identify logistical solutions that guarantee the viability of aid operations, but additional funding is still required to fill the $68 million gap in the UN budget.

Cuba has experienced an economic crisis and energy shortage that have worsened over time due to US economic sanctions and oil embargo, which include the imposition of trade tariffs on oil imports from third countries to the island. The blockade has triggered an energy emergency, given that currently Cuba relies on imported oil from Mexico and Venezuela.

The UN has condemned US action, describing it as a “unilateral economic coercion” and a violation of international law.

In addition, Cuba has experienced repeated natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, resulting in significant infrastructure damage, destruction of homes, and the displacement of thousands, all of which further complicate the economic crisis.

From JURIST, April 7. Used with permission.

See our last report on the crisis in Cuba.