The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned on Monday that the expansion of sanctions imposed by the United States against Cuba is causing widespread harm to the population and endangering lives. His call to halt the sanctions follows recent UN reports warning of deteriorating humanitarian conditions amid a deepening energy crisis on the island.
“The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions, taken together, are directly harming Cubans, especially the most vulnerable. Children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines. This is unacceptable," said Türk. "These sanctions must be lifted immediately."
The US declaration of a national emergency in January disrupted fuel shipments to Cuba, severely reducing the country's fuel reserves by mid-May. This depletion has led to daily blackouts that now frequently exceed 20 hours.
Additional sanctions were imposed in May, including some with extraterritorial effects on private entities such as traders, insurers, tourism and shipping companies, as well as financial institutions and others involved in the fuel supply or engaged with the country's energy, defense, mining, finance, and security sectors.
Together, these measures are significantly affecting the population’s humanitarian situation and human rights, particularly their access to essential supplies and services, including water, food, and healthcare.
Children are dying as result of the US sanctions
Critical medical services, such as oncology, dialysis, and maternal health, are under severe strain. Recent public health data reveals alarming trends, including a doubling of infant mortality to 9.9 per 1,000 births and a decline in childhood cancer survival rates from 85 percent to 65 percent since fuel restrictions were imposed.
According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), essential medicines are in critical short supply, with stock levels down to approximately 30 percent. Fuel shortages are disrupting the agricultural supply chain, leading to a reported 60 percent decrease in food production and spikes in the cost of basic food items.
“Such severe sanctions packages that target entire sectors of an economy and produce broad, indiscriminate, and harsh effects on populations are incompatible with basic principles of international human rights law,” the UN human rights chief said.
Private companies impose restrictions that go beyond legal requirements.
OHCHR stresses that, regardless of the circumstances, basic humanitarian activities should be protected. However, due to concerns about sanctions, many companies in the private sector are imposing restrictions beyond legal requirements, which leads to further delays in procurement, shipping disruptions, and growing uncertainty in humanitarian supply chains.
These coercive measures and operational restrictions also hinder the work of aid agencies, including those of UN agencies, in providing essential relief and assistance. The recent suspension of services by major shipping companies due to risk aversion affected more than 2,900 metric tons of humanitarian food cargo.
“Cuba faces increasing isolation. Companies are leaving. Fewer airlines fly to the country. It is almost disconnected from international payment systems,” said the High Commissioner.
“Rising summer temperatures risk increasing the spread of vector borne and waterborne diseases. The hurricane season further increases exposure. This creates a perfect storm for social and economic deterioration and suffering for the Cuban people.”
Türk urged companies to avoid overcompliance and blanket disengagement in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, emphasizing that businesses have human rights responsibilities.
Given the situation's potential to create tensions and increase the risk of social unrest in Cuba, Türk urged the Cuban authorities to exercise the utmost restraint and respect the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
The UN human rights chief also called on the Cuban government to release all those arbitrarily detained and engage in constructive dialogue and confidence-building efforts to ease social tensions.
Humanitarian conditions deteriorate as energy crisis deepens
On Thursday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the combined impact of the energy crisis resulting from the US executive orders and other sanctions, as well as hurricanes and other natural disasters, is far-reaching and expanding daily in Cuba.
OCHA stated that all basic services, including clean water, sanitation, food production, and health care, are affected by the lack of fuel and electricity. More than 100,000 surgeries have been postponed due to a severe shortage of medicine and medical supplies.
Although the UN has released a Plan of Action to assist up to two million people, the energy crisis is limiting the delivery of aid already committed. Dozens of containers of food and medical supplies are sitting in ports due to a lack of fuel.
After Hurricane Melissa hit Cuba in October 2025, the United Nations launched the Plan of Action, which prioritized one million people in 33 most-affected municipalities. In March 2026, the plan was revised to address the energy crisis and increase the target to two million people.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on UN member states to facilitate the timely and unimpeded delivery of fuel for humanitarian purposes and other life-saving aid and to fund the plan. Yet, as of today, only 21 percent of the $82 million Plan of Action has been funded.