Cuba energy crisis: Humanitarian needs remain despite fuel supplies

This article is published in association with United Nations.

The UN has issued an urgent call for international support as Cuba grapples with a ‘worsening’ humanitarian crisis fuelled by a prolonged energy blockade and the lingering devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last year.

Fuel shortages in the nation have deepened after Washington took measures at the end of January to block oil supplies from entering the Caribbean nation. 

Despite the reported arrival of limited fuel supplies, including a recent oil shipment sent by Russia which was allowed to dock by the United States despite its blockade last week, “the humanitarian needs in the country remain quite acute and persistent”, said the top UN official in the country on Monday, adding that the impacts of the energy shock have ‘worsened’ since the end of March. 

Resident Coordinator Francisco Pichon, briefing reporters in New York via video link, unveiled an updated Action Plan aimed at supporting around two million people across eight provinces. 

The plan builds on previous recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa with a focus on the island’s collapsing power grid.

Shock to daily life

The humanitarian situation has reached a critical tipping point following three months without sufficient fuel to meet the Caribbean nation’s energy needs, which had been largely met by Venezuela until the US rendition of President Nicolás Maduro in January. 

The crisis was further exacerbated last month, when the national electrical system disconnected three times, plunging the nation into darkness for days at a time.

This energy deficiency has paralysed essential services. Health systems are facing a backlog of over 96,000 pending surgeries, including 11,000 for children, while the National Immunization Programme has been delayed for thousands of infants. 

Furthermore, roughly one million people are currently dependent on water trucking, a service severely constrained by the lack of diesel.

Focus on vulnerable populations

Mr. Pichon emphasised that the crisis was not felt equally, hitting the most vulnerable groups in Cuba the hardest. 

With Cuba being the most aged country in Latin America, the UN is prioritising the protection of nearly 300,000 elderly citizens living alone, as well as over 100,000 people with disabilities and 32,000 pregnant women.

“The humanitarian consequences continue every day, despite recent efforts to deliver fuel; the situation comes on top of multiple shocks,” Mr. Pichon said. 

To address these needs, the UN presence in Cuba emphasised shifting toward sustainable energy backup solutions. 

The updated Action Plan includes the installation of solar power for irrigation systems, hospitals, and schools, as well as the reinforcement of water pumping infrastructure to reduce reliance on the fragile national grid.

© WFP/Edelvio Hidalgo

Food aid is prepared for delivery by the World Food Programe to communities in Cuba affected by Hurricane Melissa. (file)

‘Critical window of opportunity’

While the UN has already mobilised $26.2 million, a significant funding gap of $68 million remains. 

Mr. Pichon stressed that the UN is working in close dialogue with national authorities and the private sector to identify logistical solutions that guarantee the viability of aid operations.

“We believe this is a critical window of opportunity to mobilise resources and raise awareness of the urgency.”

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