The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, denounced this Friday the impact of the restrictions imposed by the United States on Cuba, “which have pushed the country to the brink of collapse,” criticizing that “nothing can justify the suffocation of an entire population.”
“In Cuba, the long-standing economic crisis has been aggravated by recent US restrictions on fuel access, which have pushed the country to the brink of collapse,” Türk said at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights #DDHH, @volker_turkdenounced today before the Human Rights Council the serious humanitarian impact of the US aggressive escalation against #Cubaincluding the energy fence.
He stressed that the measures affect the Cuban economy and treatment of… pic.twitter.com/jTMAQfq28S
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) February 27, 2026
The high commissioner mentioned that on the island “children with cancer are dying without medication or treatment” and that “pregnant women struggle to get the food and care they need.”
“Whatever the objectives of these sanctions and tariffs, nothing can justify the suffocation of an entire population,” Türk concluded.
The UN Human Rights Office already pointed out a few days ago that the US blockade violates the United Nations Charter and international law, in addition to causing the “dismantling” of the food, health and water supply system on the island.
Earlier this week the US took two steps to take some pressure off its oil blockade of Cuba by facilitating the export of oil and derivatives by US companies to members of the private sector on the island.
