The UN asked On Monday, the international community called on Cuba to provide immediate support amid the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade and exacerbated by the fallout from Cuba Hurricane Melissawhich hit the country in October 2025.
The UN resident coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichon, said the humanitarian situation had reached a critical point after the US Oil blockade imposed in January. He added that despite the crisis, the population still urgently needs humanitarian assistance Oil delivery from Russia at the end of March.
Pichon explained that Cuba has been facing a fuel shortage since December, preventing it from meeting its national energy needs. Disruptions to the country’s electricity system further exacerbated the crisis and led to disruptions to essential services such as healthcare and water access. Due to power shortages, medical authorities had to postpone over 96,000 surgeries and vaccinations for thousands of children were delayed. Officials also noted that vulnerable groups, including older citizens, people with disabilities and women, were most affected by the humanitarian crisis.
The decline in available energy and the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa have significantly hampered the humanitarian response of the United Nations and its partners. In response, the United Nations created a targeted Action plan to address the urgent needs of Cubans, focusing on providing humanitarian assistance 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 to ensure timely and effective distribution of aid and continued operation of vital services. To address this issue, the action plan includes steps to transition to sustainable energy sources and reduce oil dependence, such as installing solar energy and strengthening water pumping infrastructure.
Pichon concluded by saying that the United Nations continues to work with national authorities and the private sector in Cuba to find logistical solutions that ensure the viability of relief operations. However, additional funding is still needed to close the $68 million gap in the UN budget.
Cuba has experienced an economic crisis crisis and energy Shortage which have worsened over time due to the US economy Sanctions and an oil embargo, which includes the imposition of trade tariffs on oil imports to the island from third countries. The blockade has created an energy emergency as Cuba currently relies on oil imports from Mexico and Venezuela.
The United Nations has condemned the US actions, calling them “unilateral economic coercion” and a violation of international law.
In addition, Cuba has experienced natural disasters including Hurricanes and earthquakes that caused significant damage to infrastructure, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of thousands of people, further worsening the economic crisis.
In March, a humanitarian aid coalition called the Nuestra America Convoy arrived in Cuba to deliver food, medical supplies and solar panel equipment to help mitigate the impact of the blockade.
