Humanitarian pressures grow as Cuba continues to struggle with energy shortages

Francisco Pichón cited growing risks to healthcare, water services and food distribution as the country’s energy reserves continue to fall.

The UN’s top official in Cuba told a press briefing in New York via video link from Havana, there was “concern that the crisis could deepen”, with shortages creating “acute humanitarian risks” for vulnerable communities. 

‘Multiple shocks’

The strain follows “multiple shocks”, including Hurricane Melissa in October, which affected more than 2.2 million people.

Cuban authorities have rolled out a month-long contingency plan to help deal with the challenges created by the fuel shortage; however, next steps are unclear, with potential for the grave situation to pose “a real risk to human suffering”, the Resident Coordinator said.

Daily life in Cuba is “becoming fragile” with essential services scaled back across the country – which relies on oil for over 90 per cent of its energy needs.

Medical scare

With five million people living with chronic illnesses, Mr Pichón emphasised that treatments are at risk due to the current energy crisis. For example, thousands of cancer patients that need continuous oncology care and services for more than 32,000 pregnant women. 

Moreover, nearly one million people – around 10 per cent of the population – get their drinking water from tanker trucks, while 84 per cent of pumping equipment depends on electricity, he said. 

Food security is also “deteriorating” with disruptions affecting the whole supply chain. Social protection is weakening whilst school programmes and elder care centres struggle to prolong services.

Real risks 

“The risk to people’s lives is not rhetorical, those who suffer first and suffer most are ordinary people, especially the most vulnerable.” Mr Pichón told reporters at the UN in New York on Wednesday. 

Amid this climate it has been increasingly difficult to reach people in need with energy scarcity driving transportation difficulties and import processes being delayed.

“Our capacities would be constrained unless there is a humanitarian carve out for oil and aid”

Diplomatic solution 

Looking ahead, Mr Pichón urged the international community to address this issue through a “diplomatic effort that can be pursued with the United States”. 

Threats to impose tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba have been diminished following a Supreme Court ruling that declared it illegal for the United States to use an emergency economic law in this context. 

After four Cuban nationals were killed by the Cuban Coast Guard on a US-registered speedboat following a gun battle at sea Wednesday, Mr Pichón urged “restraint to prevent escalation”.