UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday called on Washington to immediately lift the tough sanctions it imposed on Cuba this year. At the same time, he pointed out that these measures cause suffering and threaten human lives, TASR informs, according to an AFP report.
- UN High Commissioner Volker Türk demands the immediate lifting of US sanctions against Cuba.
- Donald Trump tightened the embargo, cut Cuba off from fuel and threatens to take over the island.
Although the Caribbean nation has faced a US trade embargo since 1962, US President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Havana in recent months, cutting off fuel supplies and threatening to seize the island.
“The fuel restrictions imposed from the beginning of 2026 and the recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions in combination directly harm Cubans, especially the most vulnerable,” Türk said in a statement.
“Children are dying because doctors do not have access to basic medical supplies and medicines. This is unacceptable,” he added, adding that these sanctions must be lifted immediately.
The United States is stepping up pressure on the country, claiming that the communist regime there threatens the security of Americans, writes AFP. Trump has repeatedly said Cuba could be next in line to “fall,” following the expulsion of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and a military campaign against Iran.
Sanctions and their consequences
In addition, US authorities have indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro in a case dating back to 1996, fueling speculation that Trump will try to oust the country’s leadership.
Türk pointed out that the oil embargo has caused daily blackouts in Cuba that often exceed 20 hours. Additional sanctions imposed last month, many of which affect private entities such as shops, insurance companies and transport companies, have also contributed to the suffering of the residents. “These measures have a significant impact on the human rights of the population as a whole,” said Türk’s statement.
Deterioration of the health and economic situation
Recently released data from Cuba’s public health department indicates that infant mortality has doubled and the survival rate of children with cancer has decreased since fuel restrictions were imposed. At the same time, food production fell by 60 percent and the prices of basic foods rose significantly.
