The crisis in Cuba has raised serious concerns at the United Nations, with the island nation facing challenges due to a US blockade affecting oil supplies. President Donald Trump’s commitment to cutting off oil to Cuba following the removal of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela has exacerbated the situation.
The UN’s human rights office expressed deep worry over the socio-economic crisis in Cuba, aggravated by the longstanding embargo, extreme weather conditions, and recent US actions limiting oil deliveries. This crisis is significantly impacting the human rights of the Cuban population, according to UN spokesperson Marta Hurtado.
UN rights chief Volker Turk reiterated the call for all countries to lift unilateral sectoral measures, emphasizing the wide-reaching negative effects on the population. Hurtado highlighted the critical impact of oil scarcity on essential services in Cuba, including health, food, and water systems that heavily rely on imported fossil fuels.
The spokeswoman pointed out that over 80% of water pumping equipment in Cuba is electricity-dependent, further exacerbating the challenges. President Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has Cuban roots, have openly expressed their intentions to bring about changes in the Cuban government.