Vienna, March 5 – Ambassador Pablo Berti Oliva, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported to the Agency’s Board of Governors that 16,000 patients requiring radiation therapy and 12,400 needing chemotherapy are facing interruptions in their treatments as a direct consequence of the U.S. embargo.
During the debate on strengthening nuclear technologies and applications, the diplomat explained that the interruptions are a direct consequence of power outages and the lack of spare parts for specialized equipment, a situation exacerbated by the Executive Order of January 29, 2026, which imposes tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba and deepens the energy blockade against the island.
The ambassador explained that the energy crisis also makes it impossible to produce short-shelf-life radiopharmaceuticals and limits the availability of CT scans and diagnostic tests, directly affecting cancer patients. The diplomat recalled that the blockade, in place for more than six decades, and Cuba’s inclusion on the unilateral list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, constitute the main obstacle to the country’s scientific and technical development and affect the right to health and development.
The statement concluded by noting that Cuba calls on the international community to address this situation: “We urge this honorable body to raise its voice against these practices that violate the human right to health and development and clearly obstruct the right of all states to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
(EmbaCubaAustria)