The United States has announced a significant expansion of humanitarian assistance to Cuba while simultaneously tightening restrictions on the island nation’s fuel supplies. Jeremy Lewin, a high-ranking official at the U.S. State Department, revealed on Thursday that Washington would provide an additional $6 million in aid, bringing total humanitarian support to $9 million since Hurricane Melissa struck in October.
This assistance is being channeled directly to the Cuban population through the Catholic Church, with Lewin confirming that the Cuban government has not impeded the distribution process. The humanitarian initiative aims to address critical shortages that have left state stores completely empty and unable to supply basic necessities to citizens.
Concurrently, the Trump administration has escalated efforts to block Cuba’s access to petroleum resources. President Trump has declared that Cuba will no longer receive oil shipments from Venezuela following last month’s operation that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has further threatened tariffs against other nations, including Mexico, that continue to provide fuel to Cuba.
In response to the growing crisis, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced temporary measures to address fuel shortages and accompanying power outages affecting multiple provinces. Díaz-Canel characterized the situation as “extremely challenging” and called for national solidarity during this period of hardship.
Despite providing humanitarian aid, the U.S. government places partial responsibility for the crisis on Cuban leadership. Lewin stated, “The fundamental issue is the government’s failure to stock store shelves. State stores are completely empty and unsupplied. What we’re witnessing is a humanitarian disaster.”
The ongoing fuel shortage continues to severely disrupt essential services and supply chains across Cuba, creating a precarious situation for the population. The dual approach of providing humanitarian assistance while maintaining economic pressure highlights the complex dynamics in U.S.-Cuba relations as ordinary citizens bear the consequences of this geopolitical tension.