A UN spokesman said that fuel shortages in Cuba have triggered a humanitarian crisis with the island nation’s health system approaching a critical point.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that hospitals face frequent power outages, shortages of essential medicines, the inability to operate critical equipment; as well as major disruptions to emergency services, infant and maternal care, cold-chain systems, as well as chronic and non-urgent care.
Ambulances are also struggling to obtain fuel, delaying urgent care. The US administration announced last month it was allowing some oil into Cuba, but it can only be sold to the private sector, not to the government.
Washington has previously banned oil from Venezuela bound for Cuba. A UN spokesman said that the world body is engaging with member states, including the United States, so aid can be delivered unimpeded.