Cuba is going dark under US pressure. How the crisis unfolded and why its troubles are far from over
Cuba is going dark under US pressure. How the crisis unfolded and why its troubles are far from over
Three months into the US-led oil embargo, Cuba faces widespread disruptions across daily life. Streets in the capital now host accumulating trash, hospital operations are constrained, and households rely on wood fires for heating. Power outages have become a routine occurrence, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel admitting that solutions are not straightforward during a recent national press conference.
Since the 1960s, the US has enforced economic sanctions on Cuba, according to a UN report, which have drained the island’s economy and hindered its human development progress. Despite global appeals to ease restrictions, Washington has intensified pressure on the communist regime. In early January, the US disrupted Cuba’s primary oil source, Venezuela, after seizing its leader in a military operation. This move forced the acting Venezuelan government to suspend deliveries. Weeks later, additional suppliers like Mexico followed suit after US threats of new tariffs.
The oil shortage has deepened Cuba’s longstanding energy challenges. With power plants struggling to maintain fuel reserves, electricity cuts have become more frequent. On Monday, the nation endured its first nationwide blackout since the sanctions began. The crisis also strains water systems, as Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, head of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, noted the need for alternative measures like solar panels to reduce dependency on the grid.
Cuban officials claim they are addressing the shortage by boosting domestic production. However, the effects on essential services persist. Díaz-Canel reported that thousands are waiting for surgeries delayed by electricity shortages. In Havana, garbage trucks unable to operate have left streets cluttered. Public transport has been cut, leading to crowded buses and long waits at stations. CNN is seeking details from relevant ministries to understand the response efforts.
Humanitarian Impact and Protests
Human Rights Watch highlights the crisis’s broad consequences. “Daily life in Cuba is being severely impacted,” said Juanita Goebertus, HRW’s Americas director. The report points to water scarcity, hospital inefficiencies, and limited access to goods. The situation has also sparked rare public demonstrations. On March 7, Havana residents protested by banging pots and lighting fires. Students later staged a peaceful rally at the University of Havana, citing interrupted studies due to power and internet cuts.
Protests continued with a violent incident in Morón, where demonstrators attacked the Communist Party’s local office. Authorities claimed five arrests occurred as part of a demonstration tied to energy and food shortages. These actions underscore the growing frustration as the crisis worsens. The government’s efforts to resolve the issue remain under scrutiny, with the outcome yet uncertain.
