The United Nations human rights chief is issuing a stark warning: US sanctions against Cuba are causing widespread and deadly harm, particularly to the most vulnerable.
Volker Türk said on Monday that children are dying because doctors cannot access essential medicines. He is calling for the immediate lifting of the sanctions, labeling them incompatible with international human rights law.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly since January, when Washington declared a national emergency, disrupting fuel shipments and sending oil reserves into a freefall. By mid-May, daily blackouts regularly exceeded 20 hours. Additional sanctions in May targeted traders, insurers, and shipping firms.
Key data from the UN human rights office shows the severity: infant mortality has doubled to 9.9 per 1,000 births, childhood cancer survival rates have fallen from 85% to 65%, and essential medicines are available at only about 30% of normal levels.
Food production has dropped by 60%, driving up basic costs. Major shipping firms have suspended operations, affecting more than 2,900 metric tonnes of humanitarian food cargo.
Türk warned that rising summer temperatures, hurricane season, and near-total isolation from international payment systems create a 'perfect storm for social and economic deterioration.' He also urged Cuban authorities to respect civil liberties and release all arbitrarily detained persons.