Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk has warned that children are dying in Cuba due to US sanctions restricting access to essential medicines and medical supplies, causing “widespread harm,” especially to the most vulnerable populations. He called for the immediate lifting of these sanctions against the Caribbean nation.
Since the US declared a national emergency in January 2026, fuel shipments to Cuba have been disrupted, causing oil reserves to drop and daily blackouts exceeding 20 hours by mid-May. Additional sanctions imposed in May targeted traders, insurers, shipping companies, and financial institutions, further limiting access to water, food, and healthcare.
According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), infant mortality in Cuba has doubled to 9.9 per 1,000 births, and childhood cancer survival rates have dropped from 85% to 65%. The availability of essential medicines is about 30% of normal levels. Food production has reportedly fallen by 60%, sharply increasing basic food prices.
Mr. Türk described the sanctions as causing “broad, indiscriminate and harsh effects on populations,” saying they are incompatible with international human rights law. Humanitarian operations have also been disrupted by private companies’ risk-averse restrictions, which go beyond legal requirements, delaying procurement and supply chains. The suspension of services by major shipping firms has impacted over 2,900 metric tonnes of humanitarian food cargo.
He noted Cuba’s rising isolation as companies depart, fewer airlines fly there, and disconnection from international payment systems intensifies. Rising summer temperatures could increase disease risk, and the approaching hurricane season may further worsen social and economic conditions.
Mr. Türk urged businesses not to disengage from Cuba indiscriminately, referencing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and called on Cuban authorities to respect civil liberties and exercise restraint.