(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
The US sanctions on Cuba are not just a political move; they’re a humanitarian disaster. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has spoken out, and rightly so. The sanctions are causing acute shortages of essential medical supplies, leading to tragic consequences for Cuban children.
Since 2026, Cuba has faced daily blackouts and severe fuel deficits after Venezuela, its main oil supplier, halted shipments under US pressure. Infant mortality has doubled to 9.9 per 1,000 births, and childhood cancer survival rates have dropped from 85% to 65%. Critical medical services are strained, and essential medicines are in short supply.
International efforts to help are being hampered by US extraterritorial sanctions. Private companies fear running afoul of them, so they won’t deliver aid. Turk is correct in saying these sanctions violate international human rights law. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla has also accused the US of “collective punishment.”
The White House’s plan to increase pressure on Cuba to force regime change is morally reprehensible. Meanwhile, countries like Russia, China, and Mexico are stepping in with humanitarian aid, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed. The US must end these sanctions immediately to save Cuban lives.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European dailies.