Archives Report of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan.pdf

Cuba: 63rd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council – Geneva [9.9.2026] – Statement By Ambassador Rodolfo Benitez Verson! (10.9.2026)

The perverse and deliberate purpose of the United States is to cause extreme shortages and total asphyxiation to Cuban families. They are trying to invoice a humanitarian tragedy to destabilise the country and achieve their political objectives.

In what constitutes an unprecedented reinforcement of the blockade, since last January the United States has imposed a brutal energy siege against Cuba. They threaten reprisals against any country that supplies oil to the island. The shortage of fuels has had a devastating impact on almost all areas of society.

Due to a lack of electricity and supplies, the national health system is forced to postpone non-urgent surgeries to prioritize life-defining ones. More than 100,000 patients are waiting for surgery, of which 12,000 are children. Life expectancy for children with cancer fell from 85% to 65%. The infant mortality rate has grown from 4.4 per thousand births in 2018 to 9.9 in 2025. Of the 395 drugs that Cuba produces within its basic health system, 300 are in short supply due to difficulties in accessing raw materials.