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The UN warned this Wednesday of a possible humanitarian "collapse" in Cuba if restrictions on the oil supply to the island continue. The alert was issued by Secretary-General António Guterres through his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, according to , amid the tightening of Washington's energy policy towards Havana.
"The Secretary-General is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if it doesn't collapse, if its oil needs are not met," Dujarric stated at the United Nations headquarters. He added that Guterres "urges all parties to continue the dialogue and respect international law."
According to the spokesperson, the UN is "assessing the impact" of the fuel shortage on the ground and is working with the Cuban government to "see how to alleviate the situation." He also noted that "for more than three decades, the General Assembly has consistently called for an end to the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba."
The warning comes amid increasing pressure from the United States to block the Island's access to external sources of oil. Washington has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sells crude to Cuba, a policy formalized at the end of January through an executive order by President Donald Trump, which paves the way for trade sanctions against third countries that continue those shipments.
According to the United Nations, the decrease in fuel availability is already having visible effects on daily life. The energy crisis has caused prolonged blackouts across the country and has contributed to rising food prices, directly impacting the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
Francisco Pichón, the UN resident coordinator in Cuba, described the social climate as a combination of "resilience, but also pain, sadness, and indignation, along with some concern about regional events." In statements to UN News from Havana, he noted that the vast majority of Cubans are experiencing continuous power cuts, at a time when the number of people in vulnerable situations has increased significantly.
The deterioration of the energy supply occurs after the end of Venezuelan oil shipments, a blow that has already severely affected the country's food security by leaving agriculture, industry, and food refrigeration systems without fuel, according to previous analyses on the impact of the end of Venezuelan oil in Cuba.
For years, that supply covered a significant portion of the energy needs of the Island. Estimates cited by international organizations indicate that Venezuelan crude contributed about 30% of Cuba's energy demand in 2025, before shipments were interrupted.
Recently, Trump publicly defended that restrictions on oil do not have to lead to a humanitarian crisis and stated that the Cuban government could negotiate with Washington to alleviate the situation, a stance that contrasts with the warnings from the UN and is reflected in his statements regarding the energy blockade on the Island.
This Thursday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly acknowledged the seriousness of the energy and economic situation facing the country. During an appearance broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Presidency, he admitted that Cuba is preparing for “more difficult times” and stated: “I am not an idealist. I know we are going to live through tough times. We have done it before, but now we will overcome this together with creative resilience, effort, and talent.”
In his speech, Díaz-Canel acknowledged an "acute fuel shortage" and stated that since December 2025, the Island has not received oil from Venezuela, a situation that, he said, has led the country to revive the harsh years of the Special Period. "Remember that the blockade against Venezuela began in December 2025. Since that date, fuel has not been received in this country," he declared. The leader maintained that some measures will be "restrictive" and that there will be activities that must "stop or be postponed," while urging the population to "save much more," without providing specific details about short-term solutions.
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