Fifteen non-governmental organizations report worsening humanitarian crisis in Cuba following energy collapse.

"This scenario had been warned about by experts and civil society due to the irresponsibility and ineffectiveness of the State," the organizations emphasized.

Current Affairs
CiberCuba Editorial Team

October 22, 2024 - 6:08 PM (GMT-5) |

Cargando — Photo © Facebook/Boris Gonzále Arenas

A group of fifteen non-governmental organizations (NGOs), both Cuban and international, has issued an alert about the humanitarian crisis in Cuba, which they claim has dramatically worsened following the recent collapse of the energy system on the island.

In a statement released on their platforms, the organizations describe an alarming scenario that profoundly affects the daily lives of Cubans and call for urgent intervention to prevent the situation from worsening.

In a joint document, the NGOs emphasize that the recent energy crisis is not an isolated event, but a "direct consequence of the structural deterioration affecting the Cuban nation on multiple levels."

The impact of prolonged blackouts and the lack of fuels, they say, is seriously affecting the quality of life of the population.

"The scarcity of electricity is aggravating existing problems, such as the lack of access to food, medicine, and other essential products, leaving the population in a state of total vulnerability," the organizations state.

The statement also highlights the direct consequences on essential services, such as the healthcare sector.

"Hospitals and health centers are experiencing power cuts that, in many cases, leave them inoperative for hours or even days. This puts the lives of those who depend on continuous medical care at risk, especially in emergency cases or for chronic patients," NGOs claim.

They add that "this situation has worsened the already precarious living conditions of Cubans, who now must face greater insecurity in access to basic services."

The signatories of the complaint warn that the Cuban government has not implemented adequate or effective measures to mitigate the impact of this crisis on the population.

In their message, the NGOs denounce that the government responses have been "insufficient and have come too late," and they criticize that no concrete measures are being taken to alleviate the suffering of the citizens.

"The regime's inability to face this crisis efficiently has further deepened the population's despair, which feels abandoned and without answers from the authorities," they emphasize.

Among the problems resulting from the energy collapse, rampant inflation and lack of access to basic goods stand out, leading the population to a state of "unprecedented despair."

The complaint also emphasizes that the restrictions on freedom of expression and the lack of access to truthful information exacerbate the crisis, as Cubans are "deprived of the right to know the true extent of the situation" and cannot organize to find collective solutions.

The signing NGOs make an urgent call to the international community to pay attention to the serious situation in Cuba.

"It is essential for the international community to mobilize and act urgently to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban population. Citizens are facing a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions, and a concerted effort is needed to ensure access to food, medicine, and other essential goods," the organizations urge.

In addition, they request that international efforts be carried out through "humanitarian cooperation mechanisms that are not interfered with by political issues."

Finally, the organizations reiterate their call to the Cuban authorities to take immediate measures to address the crisis.

"We urge the Cuban government to ensure access to the basic resources that the population needs to survive, and to set aside repressive policies that prevent Cuban civil society from organizing and responding effectively to this catastrophe," concludes the statement.

The signatories warn that if urgent action is not taken, the crisis in Cuba could "reach catastrophic levels, with irreversible consequences for the most vulnerable sectors of society, such as the elderly, the chronically ill, and children."

The call from the NGOs highlights the urgency of addressing the Cuban crisis, which they believe has been "aggravated by the lack of adequate responses and by the government's inaction."