UN Specialists Warn of Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba Amid US Sanctions

United Nations human rights specialists have compared the current situation in Cuba to that of the Gaza Strip, warning that the island could become a silent Gaza. The alert follows a fuel blockade imposed by Washington that has lasted over six months, contributing to a collapse of the energy grid and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Cuba has experienced at least six national blackouts this year, with some residents facing power cuts for up to 20 hours a day. These outages have paralyzed essential services, including waste collection and flights, and have forced some hotels to close. In response, residents in affected neighborhoods have held daily protests, including panelaços and setting fire to accumulated trash. While the US briefly allowed a Russian tanker with 100,000 tons of crude oil in March, those supplies have been exhausted. The US government attributes the crisis to mismanagement by the Cuban government, whereas Havana blames the blockade and the long standing embargo. Diplomatic progress remains stalled, according to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Center leaning sources frame the event as a humanitarian emergency driven by US pressure, with one emphasizing the specific warnings from the UN and another focusing on the strategic motivations behind the Trump administration's increased sanctions.