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Cuba cites U.S. embargo for rising mortality and energy crisis
Cuba is facing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis, which officials attribute to the long-standing United States embargo and recent energy sanctions. Abel Prieto, president of Casa de las Américas, has denounced the situation as a 'process of suffocation,' noting that the impact extends beyond the government to the general population.
Key indicators of the crisis include a significant rise in infant mortality, from 4.4 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births, and a decline in the survival rate of children with cancer from 85% to 65%. Additionally, approximately 7,000 containers of medical supplies and food are reportedly stalled in the Caribbean due to shipping companies' fears of U.S. reprisals. The country also faces extreme energy shortages, with power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day in some areas.
In response, Cuba plans to seek United Nations support to end the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade through a resolution to be discussed at the UN General Assembly on October 27-28. Domestic reports indicate that 89% of Cuban households live in extreme poverty, and over 71% of families report that frequent blackouts have compromised their ability to maintain food supplies due to lack of refrigeration.
Entities
Abel Prieto · Casa de las Américas · Cuba · Granma Circle of ItalyCuba · ICAP · UNAM · United Nations · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 71.24% of Cuban families reported that blackouts affected their ability to feed themselves due to food loss from lack of refrigeration. periodismodebarrio.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 89% of Cuban households are currently living in extreme poverty. periodismodebarrio.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Data corrections revealed that a shipment reported as 2.5 million barrels of fuel to Cuba was actually 87,000 barrels. www.14ymedio.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abel Prieto stated that the term 'blockade' is insufficient to describe the impact of U.S. policies on Cuba. www.cubaperiodistas.cu · www.cubaheadlines.com · www.escambray.cu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Cuba will request UN support to end the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo via a resolution on October 27-28. imprensapublica.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 7,000 containers of medical supplies and food are being held in the Caribbean due to shipping company fears of U.S. reprisals. www.cubaperiodistas.cu · www.cubaheadlines.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The survival rate for children with cancer in Cuba has fallen from 85% to 65%. www.cubaperiodistas.cu · www.cubaheadlines.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Infant mortality rates in Cuba rose from 4.4 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births. www.cubaperiodistas.cu · www.cubaheadlines.com · www.escambray.cu