Despite the arrival of limited fuel supplies, including a recent shipment of oil sent by Russia that the United States allowed to dock despite its blockade last week, ““The humanitarian needs in the country remain quite acute and persistent.”the top UN official in the country said on Monday, adding that the impacts of the energy shock have “worsened” since the end of March.
Resident Coordinator Francisco Pichon briefed journalists in New York via video link and revealed an updated Action Plan aimed at supporting around two million people in eight provinces.
The plan builds on previous recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa with A focus on the collapse of the island’s electrical grid..
Impact on daily life
The humanitarian situation has reached a critical turning point after three months without enough fuel to meet the Caribbean nation’s energy needs, which had been largely met by Venezuela until President Nicolás Maduro’s US surrender in January.
The crisis was It got even worse last month, when the national electrical system was disconnected three timesplunging the nation into darkness for days at a time.
This energy deficiency has paralyzed essential services. Health systems face a backlog of more than 96,000 pending surgeries, including 11,000 for childrenwhile the National Immunization Program has been delayed for thousands of babies.
Besides, Approximately one million people currently rely on trucking water, a service severely limited by a lack of diesel..
Focus on vulnerable populations
Pichón emphasized that the crisis was not felt equally and hit the most vulnerable groups in Cuba hardest.
Cuba being the oldest country in Latin America, the The UN prioritizes the protection of almost 300,000 elderly people living alone, as well as more than 100,000 people with disabilities and 32,000 pregnant women.
“The humanitarian consequences continue every day, despite recent efforts to deliver fuel; the situation adds to multiple shocks,” Pichon said.
To address these needs, the UN presence in Cuba emphasized the shift towards sustainable energy backup solutions.
The updated Action Plan includes the installation of solar energy for irrigation systems, hospitals and schools, as well as the reinforcement of water pumping infrastructure. to reduce dependence on the fragile national grid.
Food aid is being prepared to be delivered by the World Food Program to the Cuban communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. (archive)
‘Critical window of opportunity’
While the UN has already mobilized $26.2 million, there remains a significant funding gap of $68 million.
Mr. Pichon stressed that The UN works in close dialogue with national authorities and the private sector. identify logistical solutions that guarantee the viability of aid operations.
“We believe this is a critical opportunity to mobilize resources and raise awareness of the urgency.”