UN Experts Accuse US of ‘Energy Starvation’ Against Cuba Following New Fuel Blockade Measures

“The continued unilateral coercive measures also offer an opportunity for Cuba to embrace the path of renewable energy,” the experts said.

United Nations human rights experts have sharply criticized a January 2026 executive order issued by the President of the United States imposing new fuel-related restrictions on Cuba, warning that the measures amount to "energy starvation" with devastating consequences for the Cuban population and the country's broader development.

In a strongly worded statement released today, the experts said the new fuel blockade is dramatically intensifying the impact of the long-standing US embargo on Cuba by worsening fuel shortages and disrupting critical public services necessary for daily life.

"Cuba has been subjected to energy starvation by the United States, a condition in which the lack of fuel cripples the functioning of essential services required for a dignified life," the UN experts said.

"This unlawful blockade is not only disrupting daily life but also undermining the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights."

The executive order introduces an additional market value-based duty on imports from any foreign country that directly or indirectly supplies oil to Cuba, a move critics say further isolates the island nation from global fuel markets and increases economic pressure on countries and companies trading with Havana.

According to the experts, the measure has significantly aggravated Cuba's already severe energy crisis.

"This measure has sharply worsened fuel shortages across the island, pushing essential services to the brink," they said.

The warning highlights growing international concern over the humanitarian impact of unilateral sanctions and coercive economic measures, particularly when they affect access to healthcare, food systems, transportation, water infrastructure, and other essential services.

The UN experts questioned the legal and factual justification for the executive order, noting that it does not clearly establish how Cuba constitutes an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security — a standard often invoked in sanctions-related emergency powers.

While the executive order reportedly cites human rights concerns within Cuba, the experts argued that the sanctions themselves are directly harming the rights of ordinary Cuban citizens.

"While the order references human rights concerns within Cuba, it fails to consider how the measure itself — a unilateral coercive measure — directly harms the enjoyment of human rights of the Cuban people," the experts said.

Humanitarian impacts outlined in the statement paint an increasingly severe picture of conditions on the island.

The experts cited reports indicating that fuel shortages are preventing many Cubans from travelling to hospitals, while transportation disruptions are also affecting school attendance for children.

Cuba's healthcare system is reportedly struggling under growing pressure, with more than 96,000 surgeries currently delayed, including approximately 11,000 procedures involving children.

The experts also raised alarm over reported delays to Cuba's National Immunisation Programme, which they say have affected thousands of infants.

"By depriving a population of the energy required to run essential services, this executive order is obstructing Cuban people's right to development and undermining their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation," the experts warned.

"Energy starvation as a coercive tool is incompatible with international human rights norms."

The statement reflects long-standing criticism from UN human rights bodies regarding the broader US embargo on Cuba, which has remained in place for decades and has repeatedly been condemned by large majorities at the United Nations General Assembly.

Human rights experts have previously argued that broad economic sanctions can disproportionately harm civilian populations while limiting access to medicines, food supplies, fuel, and development resources.

The latest measures are viewed by critics as significantly escalating economic pressure by targeting Cuba's already fragile energy sector.

Analysts say fuel shortages have become one of the most critical issues facing Cuba in recent years, affecting transportation systems, electricity generation, industrial production, healthcare operations, and agricultural output.

Rolling blackouts, fuel rationing, and transportation disruptions have increasingly strained daily life across the island.

At the same time, the UN experts noted that the ongoing crisis could potentially accelerate Cuba's transition toward renewable energy development.

"The continued unilateral coercive measures also offer an opportunity for Cuba to embrace the path of renewable energy," the experts said.

Nevertheless, they emphasized that any transition toward sustainable energy systems requires significant investment, infrastructure development, and access to international financing — all of which can be hindered by extensive sanctions regimes.

The experts confirmed they have formally communicated their concerns to the United States Government and requested clarification regarding the legal basis for the executive order, as well as details about any measures being taken to mitigate its humanitarian consequences.

The United States has long defended sanctions on Cuba as tools aimed at promoting political reform, democracy, and human rights on the island.

However, critics argue that decades of economic restrictions have failed to achieve their political objectives while contributing to persistent economic hardship for the Cuban population.

The latest UN intervention is likely to intensify international debate over the humanitarian impact of sanctions policies and the balance between geopolitical pressure and human rights obligations under international law.