Cuba quantifies impact of US oil blockade on children’s health and daily life

June 15, 2026 - 23:19

Cuba has released a detailed report outlining the severe impact of the United States oil blockade on the health and daily routines of its children. According to the government's assessment, the decades-long embargo has directly compromised pediatric care, leaving hospitals without essential medicines, surgical supplies, and reliable electricity.

The report highlights that the blockade has forced Cuba to import fuel at higher costs, which drains resources from the public health system. This energy shortage has led to frequent blackouts in pediatric wards, disrupting the operation of incubators, ventilators, and refrigeration for vaccines. Officials say that children with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes face the most danger, as access to inhalers and insulin has become unpredictable.

Beyond hospital care, the blockade affects daily life for families. The report notes that fuel shortages limit school transportation and the distribution of food rations for children. Many parents struggle to cook meals or boil water due to intermittent gas and power supplies. The Cuban government argues that these conditions violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees access to healthcare and an adequate standard of living.

While the U.S. maintains that the embargo is a tool to pressure the Cuban government, Havana insists that the primary victims are ordinary citizens, especially the youngest. The report concludes by calling for an end to what it describes as a systematic punishment of children for political reasons.