The United Nations has warned of a potential humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba as the country faces severe fuel shortages amid U.S. pressure to block oil shipments. The United States has threatened tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba, compounding the effects of decades-long trade restrictions and recent events in Venezuela.
“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday. He noted that the General Assembly has called for an end to the U.S. embargo for more than 30 years and urged “all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law.”
The fuel crisis has pushed up food prices, caused severe shortages, and led to rolling blackouts nationwide. Francisco Pichon, the UN’s top official in Cuba, described the situation as “a combination of emotions…a mix of resilience, but also grief, sorrow and indignation, and some concern about the regional developments.”
Pichon pointed to Venezuela, where 32 Cubans were killed on January 3 during a U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, as a factor intensifying regional tensions. “The last two years have been quite tough,” he said, stressing that urgent changes are needed to sustain Cuba’s social model “in the midst of the severe economic, financial and trade sanctions.”
Even amid these challenges, the UN continues to support Cuba through long-term programs. “The energy transition is a major priority due to reduced access to fuel and infrastructure challenges,” Pichon said, adding that investment bottlenecks remain a significant hurdle.
The UN’s engagement includes institutional reforms, economic transformation, disaster risk management, and social protection. During Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, the UN pre-positioned supplies through the Central Emergency Response Fund, enabling aid to more than 2.2 million people and preventing direct loss of life.
“All of this is happening in the context of the U.S. embargo against Cuba,” Pichon noted. He emphasized the UN’s guiding principles: “To be present. To support. To act based on cooperation, respected for international law, and the UN values.”
