Francisco Pichón, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Cuba, told the British newspaper The Guardian that access to fuel is crucial to sustaining humanitarian aid and saving lives amid the energy crisis affecting the country.
Four months after the crisis worsened, hospitals have reduced operations, small businesses have closed, and thousands of surgeries have been postponed, while pregnant women and newborns face risks due to power outages, he noted in a recent interview.
The official pointed out that patients with hemodialysis, cancer, and chronic illnesses depend on energy for life support, and doctors and nurses are working under conditions that are testing the health system.
The energy shock has a multiplier effect on essential services such as water pumping, food preservation, and patient transport, generating cascading failures when electricity is interrupted, he explained.
In response, the United Nations system in Cuba, with support from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, restructured its Action Plan to address the impacts of Hurricane Melissa and incorporate the needs arising from the energy crisis.
More than two million people were affected by the storm, which caused flooding and disrupted basic services, including access to drinking water in areas where systems depend on electricity.
The UN mobilized $24 million before the crisis intensified, but the continuation of aid depends on having sufficient fuel to transport supplies to communities and provinces.
The Action Plan will remain in place until the end of the year, with constant monitoring of needs and priority given to life-saving interventions, complementing national efforts.
Pichón emphasized that this is a humanitarian issue and that no obstacle should stand in the way of people’s right to access health, water, and essential services.
The UN reiterated that behind every statistic are families whose resilience is being tested and that humanitarian action cannot wait.
The oil blockade has a harmful systemic effect on national life.
The UN Charter is clear: dialogue over conflicts, peace over war, and respect for international law over impositions.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
