UNDP and Qatar will supply gas to 2.2 million Cubans affected by the electricity crisis

Amid the acute energy crisis facing Cuba, the recent announcement from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Qatar Fund for Development regarding a project to provide liquefied gas to 2.2 million people seems more like a promise than an immediate relief for a population that is constantly living with blackouts, long lines, and misery.

According to a report from UNDP on its website, both entities signed a agreement for 4.5 million dollars aimed at improving access to energy for cooking and promoting safer water consumption in the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana, which were affected by hurricanes Oscar and Rafael in 2024.

The project, which is expected to be implemented at the beginning of 2026, aims to also benefit 200 public service institutions, including health centers, schools, and food production entities.

The plan includes support for the Family Care Systems, responsible for distributing food to vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and people with disabilities.

"The Qatar Development Fund is committed to supporting communities affected by natural disasters and climate crises, ensuring they receive the essential resources needed to drive their recovery," stated Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, the director general of the Qatari institution.

For his part, Fernando, the resident representative of UNDP in Cuba, stated that expanding access to energy is a priority for the organization.

"With this contribution, we will strengthen the resilience of communities and expand access to essential services and drinking water in the affected provinces," he assured.

Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael struck western Cuba with less than a month between them, leaving areas in three provinces without electricity for weeks.

However, more than a year later, power outages remain a constant on the island, where the collapse of the state energy system leaves millions of Cubans living with blackouts and shortages.

In this context, the "promise" to improve basic services with international financing arrives, complementing the recent commitment made by the Cuban regime, which assured an improvement in the national energy crisis, this time betting on gas as a solution for 2026.