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At least two million people in Cuba are facing a severe crisis characterized by the deterioration of basic services, amidst prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and the collapse of essential infrastructure.
According to a , the healthcare system has over 96,000 pending surgeries, including around 11,000 for children, while the national vaccination program is also experiencing delays that affect thousands of minors.
The crisis also affects access to drinking water, with around one million people relying on tanker trucks, a service limited by diesel shortages and failures in the national hydraulic system.
The impact extends to the most vulnerable sectors, including nearly 300,000 elderly individuals living alone, over 100,000 people with disabilities, and around 32,000 pregnant women, all of whom face greater risks amid widespread deterioration.
The situation has worsened after more than three months without sufficient fuel supply, leading to at least three total disconnections of the national electric system in a single month, leaving the country in darkness for days.
In response to this situation, the United Nations launched a response plan for eight provinces in the country, aiming to assist the most affected population and mitigate the impact of the energy crisis.
The organization has mobilized a total of 26.2 million dollars in aid so far, of which approximately 6.3 million is already available for immediate assistance, although there remains a funding shortfall of around 68 million dollars to meet urgent needs.
Despite some recent fuel shipments, the report warns that humanitarian needs remain “acute and persistent,” in a country where the energy crisis continues to directly impact the daily lives of millions of people.
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