United Nations warns US sanctions may turn Cuba into a “silent Gaza”

United Nations human rights experts have warned that recent United States sanctions against Cuba risk turning the island into a “silent Gaza.” The experts condemned the measures as an attempt to alter Cuba's constitutional order through threats and coercion, noting that such actions violate Article 2 of the UN Charter.

The humanitarian consequences are reportedly escalating into a widespread crisis affecting the rights to health, food, and development. A critical shortage of fuel has led to several systemic failures, including interrupted water pumping systems in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, inadequate garbage collection, and crippled agricultural irrigation.

Furthermore, the energy crisis has resulted in prolonged blackouts and national power grid collapses, which directly impact hospital services and essential transportation. UN agencies have highlighted increasing risks of food insecurity, a lack of essential medicines, and the potential spread of diseases due to failing sanitation services. The experts emphasized that "food should never be used as an instrument of political pressure."