CARIBBEAN REGION — Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for the immediate lifting of U.S. sanctions on Cuba on Monday.

Daily power outages in Cuba exceeded 20 hours by mid-May. Infant death rates in Cuba have doubled to 9.9 per 1,000 births, and childhood cancer survival rates have declined from 85 percent to 65 percent. Essential medicines in the country are available at approximately 30 percent of normal supply levels. The Cuban government reported a backlog of 96,387 patients awaiting surgery in March, including 11,193 minors. The government also reported that 16,000 patients required radiotherapy and 2,888 required dialysis. Turk said, "Children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines. This is unacceptable." He added, "The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions, taken together, are directly harming Cubans, especially the most vulnerable." Turk also noted Cuba faces increasing isolation and disconnection from international payment systems.

In January, the U.S. administration acted to sever oil and financial supplies from Venezuela that were routed to Cuba. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on January 29, declaring Cuba an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security. This order imposed tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. In May, the U.S. announced penalties against Cuba’s Interior Ministry, National Police, and Directorate of Intelligence. In June, the U.S. announced sanctions targeting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and members of his family. These sanctions are designed to penalize individuals responsible for repression in Cuba, freezing U.S.-based assets and prohibiting entities from conducting business with sanctioned parties.

Since January, only one Russian oil tanker has reached Cuba. Food production output in the country has decreased by approximately 60 percent. Private companies are implementing operational restrictions that are delaying supply chain processes. The suspension of services by major shipping firms has delayed more than 2,900 metric tonnes of humanitarian food cargo. A 6.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in western Cuba on Monday.

Turk also noted climate-related risks. Alongside his call for sanctions relief, Turk called on Cuban authorities to release all arbitrarily detained persons and respect civil liberties.