Deep Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba Following Tightened US Sanctions

Cuba is facing one of its deepest crises since the revolution, which media and residents describe as a situation close to paralysis or "the end of the movie." The direct cause is the plan by the Trump administration, which, aiming to change the regime, tightened economic sanctions. A key element is the blockade of oil supplies from Venezuela, Cuba's main energy partner, which has led to catastrophic fuel shortages. The effects are visible across the country: gas stations are empty, public transport barely functions, uncollected garbage piles up in the streets, and airports are suspending operations due to lack of fuel for planes. The United States has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba since 1960, shortly after Fidel Castro's revolution and the nationalization of American assets. Over the decades, the embargo has been modified, and a thaw period occurred during Barack Obama's presidency, who established diplomatic relations and eased some restrictions. Donald Trump reversed this policy, reinstating and tightening sanctions as part of the so-called "maximum pressure" campaign. The fuel crisis has a direct, devastating impact on daily life. Students cannot reach schools, workers cannot get to workplaces, and farmers are unable to transport crops, threatening food security. The healthcare system is operating in emergency mode, and power outages are a daily occurrence. Media report images of a deserted Havana, where traffic on the famous seaside boulevard Malecón has come to a halt. Residents refer to their survival strategies as "inventar" – daily inventing ways to obtain food, medicine, or fuel. To the structural crisis, encompassing hyperinflation, mass emigration, and decaying infrastructure, has now been added an acute shock caused by sanctions. „"It's a protest symbol"” — 36-year-old resident of Havana, commenting on graffiti as a symbol of protest The international community, particularly in Spain where the articles originate, is reacting with great concern. Some commentators do not blame only the US sanctions, but also the inefficiency and rigidity of the Cuban economic system. Nevertheless, the dominant narrative is about US responsibility. One headline describes the situation as "catástrofe humanitaria" (humanitarian catastrophe), and authors emphasize that the sanctions hit not the ruling party or the army, but ordinary citizens, children, the elderly, and the sick. Praktycznie zerowa — availability of fuel at public stations The Trump administration openly admits that its goal is to force a change in the island's political and economic system through economic pressure. In addition to the oil embargo, actions include restricting tourism revenue and controlling remesas, or money transfers from Cubans living abroad, which constitute a vital source of income for many families. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has expressed deep concern about the impact of the situation on education and life-saving systems. Among residents, despite immense frustration and desire for change, there is also fear of a potential US military intervention as the final chapter of the long conflict.