# Cuba's denunciations of US blockade impacts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cubas-denunciations-of-us-blockade-impacts > Updated: 2026-09-16T14:52:43.000Z. Sources: 45. Developments: 4. Cuban officials and researchers continue to denounce the impact of the United States' economic, commercial, and financial blockade on national development. Recent reports highlight severe consequences for public health, education, and infrastructure. Research from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) links the blockade and energy sanctions to a significant rise in infant mortality, noting the rate increased from 4.0 per thousand live births in 2018 to 9.9 in 2025. Researcher Guillaume Long suggests approximately 1,800 infants might have survived if not for medical supply shortages caused by import restrictions and financial barriers. These challenges are tied to policies like the Helms-Burton Act and Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which impede banking for medical goods and maritime insurance. An annual report covering March 2025 to February 2026 details critical shortages in the education and healthcare sectors. In special education, a lack of functional audiometers, Braille typewriters, and cochlear implants has severely limited support for students with impairments. The healthcare system faces a crisis with approximately 98,500 patients on surgical waiting lists, including 12,000 children, alongside shortages in oncology treatments. The availability of basic medicines is reported at only 30 percent, as international shipping companies reportedly refuse to transport supplies to the island. Energy deficits caused by fuel shortages have further impacted schools and medical services, while the ambulance fleet is limited, with only 22 percent of vehicles operational. By September 2026, the situation has been characterized by officials, such as Ambassador Rogelio Polanco, as a ‘multidimensional aggression’ intended to destabilize the nation. In mid-September 2026, the United States announced new sanctions targeting Cuba's military and nickel mining sectors under Executive Order 14404. ## Claims - Cuba reports a surgical waiting list of 100,000 patients, including 12,000 children, due to resource shortages. (disputed by 2 sources) - Cuba reports a surgical waiting list of approximately 98,500 patients, including 12,000 children, due to resource shortages. (disputed) - The US government has imposed new sanctions on Cuba targeting metal mining, metallurgy, and military research. (corroborated by 9 sources) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the administration will not allow the Cuban elite to profit from natural resources. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Three Cuban military officers—Joaquin Francisco Cancio Monteagudo, Dioglis Pedrera Argüello, and Julio Hurtado Bentancourt—have been sanctioned. (corroborated by 6 sources) - President Donald Trump has characterized Cuba as an ‘exceptional threat’ to US national security. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The new sanctions are based on Executive Order 14404 signed by President Trump. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-16: United States imposes new sanctions on Cuba's nickel and military sectors The US has imposed new sanctions on Cuban nickel mining companies and military research entities to restrict the regime's revenue, amid reports from Cuba of stranded food and medical supplies due to economic US 41 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-faces-critical-education-and-healthcare-shortages-due-to-us-blockade ### 2026-09-14: US blockade linked to rising infant mortality in Cuba A CEPR report links the US blockade of Cuba to a 148 percent increase in infant mortality, with rates rising from 4.0 to 9.9 per thousand live births due to medical supply shortages and financial restrictions. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-blockade-linked-to-rising-infant-mortality-in-cuba ### 2026-08-25: Cuba denounces US blockade impact on healthcare at UN Cuba has denounced the US blockade at the UN, reporting that economic restrictions are causing a rise in infant mortality and preventing pregnant women from accessing essential prenatal care and medical kits. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-denounces-us-blockade-impact-on-healthcare-at-un ### 2026-08-09: Cuba denounces impact of US blockade on culture at BRICS meeting During a BRICS cultural ministers meeting in India, Cuba denounced the impact of the US blockade on its cultural and educational development and pledged to strengthen cooperation within the bloc. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-denounces-impact-of-us-blockade-on-culture-at-brics-meeting --- Cite as: Cuba's denunciations of US blockade impacts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cubas-denunciations-of-us-blockade-impacts