Geneva (AFP) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed on Friday its "great concern" about the deteriorating social and economic situation in Cuba, which is facing a widespread fuel crisis in light of the pressure exerted on it by the United States.

Published on: 02/13/2026 - 15:05

Commission spokeswoman Marta Hurtado said in a press conference in Geneva, “The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, reiterates his call on all countries to lift unilateral measures targeting a specific sector, given their significant impact on the population without discrimination.”

"Political goals cannot justify measures that violate human rights," she added.

The High Commission stressed that imposing sanctions on entire sectors causes economic difficulties and weakens the state’s ability to bear its basic responsibilities.

"This increases the risk of social unrest in Cuba," Hurtado noted.

The situation in Cuba, which is ruled by a communist regime and has a population of 9.6 million people, has worsened since Venezuelan oil supplies were stopped under pressure from the United States, which threatened to impose customs duties on any country that exports oil to it.

Hurtado also said, "We are deeply concerned about the worsening social and economic crisis in Cuba, in light of the financial and trade blockade imposed for decades, extreme weather phenomena, and recent US measures that place restrictions on oil supplies."

She explained that this situation "leads to increasingly serious repercussions for human rights in Cuba."

This UN warning comes the day after Mexico provided humanitarian aid to Cuba. Other countries, including Russia, have expressed their intention to send aid to the island.

“Given the dependence of health, food, and water systems on imported fuel, the current oil shortage threatens to interrupt basic services in Cuba,” Hurtado said. “Access to basic goods and services, including food, water, and medicine, must be guaranteed, as well as adequate supplies of fuel and electricity, because they are essential to guaranteeing the right to life and the possibility of enjoying many other rights.”

Havana accuses US President Donald Trump of seeking to "stifle" the island's economy, as it has implemented emergency measures since Monday, such as rationing gasoline, reducing the work week to four days in government offices, working remotely, and studying at university via the Internet.

Fuel shortages also forced health authorities to reduce the number of staff in hospitals and postpone non-essential surgeries.

© 2026 AFP

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