An oil blockade by the U.S. is crippling daily activities in Cuba, as the 11 million people in the country are now left without electricity. The Cuban government has imposed emergency measures due to the crisis.
Humanitarian crisis looming in Cuba due to US oil blockade
A US oil blockade has severely disrupted activities in Cuba, as the country is rationing energy to keep essential functions running. This has left the 11 million people in the country without electricity to carry out essential activities.
A report has indicated that families are now using coal and wood for cooking. The crisis is also forcing companies to reduce their work hours to accommodate the crisis plaguing the country.
Almost all aspects of Cuban society will be affected by the electricity crisis. The President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has imposed a wide range of restrictions to manage oil shortages in the country.
Moreover, the government told Cubans that they needed these restrictions to preserve the essential functions and basic services while managing limited fuel.
“Fuel will be used to protect essential services for the population and indispensable economic activities. This is an opportunity and a challenge that we have no doubt we will overcome. We are not going to collapse,” said the Deputy Prime Minister, Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga.
Also, the government informed airlines on Monday that they have just 24 hours of fuel remaining for aircrafts. The closure of air travel would also have an effect on welfare because a substantial amount of food and medicine comes by luggage on airlines.
Emergency measures cause severe restrictions
The emergency measures put in place by the Cuban government due to the US oil blockade are threatening the quality of life in the country. The energy shortage will deeply affect transportation and tourism as movement will have to be toned down. Food production is also under serious threat.
Similarly, the government is forcing schools and workplaces to reduce their opening hours and in-person attendance requirements. State-owned organisations are now shifting to a four-day workweek, which might limit essential services to people.
Peter Mertens, a member of the Belgian Parliament, has stood in solidarity with the Cubans. He denounced the US oil blockade and called for its immediate lifting.
“We demand an end to the illegal blockade, the delivery of humanitarian aid and oil, and that the Belgian embassy in Cuba remain open,” he posted on X
However, some entities have announced their commitment to support Cuba with needed aid. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a post on X, said it has sent humanitarian aid to Cuba through two vessels of the Mexican Navy.
Also, CodePink, an anti-war organisation in the US, has said that it will be taking 2,500 lbs of lentils to Cuba. Cuba has now joined the global list of nations needing aid due to humanitarian crises.
