Francisco Pichón, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cuba, has warned of growing humanitarian risks as the country’s energy reserves continue to decline. Speaking via video link from Havana at a UN press briefing in New York, he highlighted that shortages are increasingly affecting healthcare, water services, and food distribution, raising concerns that the crisis could worsen for vulnerable communities.
Cuba is facing the cumulative effects of “multiple shocks,” including Hurricane Melissa in October, which impacted more than 2.2 million people. In response, Cuban authorities have implemented a month-long contingency plan to address the fuel shortage, but the next steps remain uncertain, and the situation could significantly increase human suffering. Daily life is becoming fragile, with essential services scaled back across the country, which depends on oil for more than 90 percent of its energy needs.
The energy crisis is putting medical care at risk for millions of people living with chronic illnesses. Thousands of cancer patients requiring continuous oncology treatment, along with services for over 32,000 pregnant women, face potential disruptions. Drinking water access is also threatened, as nearly one million people rely on tanker trucks and 84 percent of pumping equipment depends on electricity. Food security is deteriorating, affecting the entire supply chain, while social protection systems, school programmes, and elder care services struggle to maintain operations.
Mr. Pichón stressed that the threats to life are real, with ordinary people—especially the most vulnerable—suffering first and most. Energy scarcity is limiting transportation and delaying imports, making it increasingly difficult to reach those in need. He warned that humanitarian capacities would remain constrained without a dedicated carve-out for oil and aid deliveries.
Looking ahead, Mr. Pichón called on the international community to pursue a diplomatic solution, particularly in cooperation with the United States. The risk of tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba has been reduced following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the use of emergency economic law in this context illegal. He also urged restraint after a recent incident in which four Cuban nationals were killed by the Cuban Coast Guard on a US-registered speedboat, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation.
