Cuba’s Crisis Deepens as Blackouts and Shortages Continue

August 11, 2026

The author describes witnessing severe humanitarian conditions during a recent trip to Cuba, including widespread shortages of food, medicine, and electricity affecting nearly 10 million people. The crisis has intensified due to U.S. sanctions and oil blockades led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who released a report accusing Cuba of decades of subversion against America. The UN Human Rights Council has warned that Cuba risks becoming a "silent Gaza" without international intervention, as the country experiences repeated electrical grid collapses and limited access to essential services.

Who is affected

Nearly 10 million Cuban people experiencing electrical outages and shortages
Pregnant women, seniors, and children in Cuba lacking access to clean water, telecommunications, and healthcare
Approximately 500,000 people who received clean water assistance in July
Over 900,000 people who received food assistance in July
Hospitals in Havana forced to limit services
Residents of Havana and Santiago de Cuba experiencing stopped water-pumping systems
Businesses and essential services in Cuba

What action is being taken

The U.S. government is implementing sanctions and oil blockades against Cuba
The United Nations is providing clean water and food assistance to hundreds of thousands of Cubans
The Institute of the Black World (IBW) and the Pan African Unity Dialogue (PAUD) are working to organize a Cuba forum
The U.S. media is reporting on the Cuban crisis

Why it matters

This represents a severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people's access to basic necessities like electricity, clean water, food, and healthcare. The UN Human Rights Council's warning that Cuba risks becoming a "silent Gaza" indicates the potential for catastrophic humanitarian consequences, including threats to rights to health, life, food, and development. The crisis highlights the human cost of geopolitical tensions and economic sanctions, with vulnerable populations—including pregnant women, children, and seniors—bearing the brunt of infrastructure failures and resource shortages.

What's next

Dr. Daniels announced an appeal to convene a Cuba forum during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 55th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in September
The forum aims to bring participants from Cuba and advance humanitarian assistance, public education, and advocacy efforts

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer