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Cuba's denunciations of US blockade impacts

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2026-09-17 22:24 UTC → 2026-09-17 23:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~U.S.~~

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