Cuba has accused the United States of inflicting severe harm on the country’s children through its long-standing economic, commercial and financial blockade, telling a United Nations forum that intensified restrictions are worsening healthcare conditions, food security and access to essential services across the island.
Speaking during the annual session of the UNICEF Executive Board, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberon, said the effects of the U.S. measures are being felt most acutely by children and other vulnerable groups. According to the Cuban diplomat, recent energy-related restrictions and additional coercive measures have deepened an already difficult humanitarian situation.
Soberon presented figures that he said demonstrate the growing impact of the blockade on public health. He reported that Cuba’s infant mortality rate increased from 4.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 9.4 in 2025. Separately, data cited by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) indicated that the rate rose from 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2017 to 9.9 in 2025, a trend the organization attributed to the tightening of U.S. sanctions.
According to the Cuban representative, shortages of essential medicines have also affected treatment outcomes for pediatric cancer patients. He stated that the survival rate among children with cancer has declined from 85% to 65% as healthcare providers struggle with medicine shortages and energy-related disruptions that affect hospital operations and medical equipment.
The strain on Cuba’s healthcare system has extended to surgical services. Soberon told the UNICEF session that prolonged blackouts and a lack of medical supplies have left more than 12,000 children waiting for necessary surgical procedures. Data from Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health indicated that these children are part of a broader national waiting list exceeding 100,000 patients, including more than 5,000 cancer cases.
The diplomat said the Cuban government continues to prioritize the protection, health and development of children despite the challenges. He also highlighted cooperation with UNICEF and the wider United Nations Development System, crediting joint initiatives with supporting pediatric and neonatal healthcare services, inclusive education programs and access to clean water in communities across the country.
The humanitarian concerns outlined by Cuban officials were closely linked to the country’s ongoing energy crisis. According to the information presented, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29 imposing tariffs on countries supplying petroleum to Cuba. Cuban authorities said the measures were later reinforced through sanctions targeting the state-owned energy company Union Cuba-Petroleo, known as Cupet.
Officials argued that fuel shortages resulting from these measures have disrupted transportation and prevented the use of 1,400 megawatts of distributed electrical generation capacity. As a result, many communities have experienced daily blackouts lasting more than 20 hours, affecting food preparation, water distribution, telecommunications and other basic services.
The energy and transportation shortages have also affected food distribution. Cuban officials reported that more than 100,000 children are no longer receiving their state-subsidized daily liter of milk because fuel shortages have hindered the transport of food from agricultural production centers. Authorities also reported reductions in rationed bread supplies due to flour shortages.
Additional challenges have emerged in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. According to the CEPR report, 170 containers carrying essential goods, including 11,000 tons of food from the World Food Programme, as well as shipments linked to UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme, remain delayed in ports or are being distributed slowly.
Concluding his remarks before UNICEF, Soberon called for predictable and flexible international funding to help developing nations address poverty, hunger and environmental pressures. He said stronger international cooperation remains essential as Cuba confronts mounting economic and humanitarian challenges.
