Mr. President,
Since 29 January, the United States has imposed a total fuel blockade on Cuba, which adds to an already criminal economic embargo that has been further intensified and to the accumulation of its effects over more than 60 years.
This policy of suffocation has a severe impact on our health system. It causes extraordinary harm to every Cuban family, to our children, elderly persons, and the sick.
Hospitals are operating under extreme conditions. The lack of energy disrupts the functioning of incubators for newborns, dialysis machines, and operating theatres.
The infant mortality rate has doubled, rising from 4 to 9.2 per 1,000 live births. The survival rate of children with cancer has fallen from 85% to 65%.
The lack of energy stability affects the treatment of more than 16,000 patients undergoing radiotherapy and another 3,000 who depend on haemodialysis. It also hampers the care of 34,000 pregnant women and nearly 5 million people in Cuba living with chronic diseases.
Urgent surgeries are being delayed, and clinical conditions requiring immediate attention are worsening. The national surgical waiting list exceeds 100,300 patients, including 12,000 children.
The human cost is enormous. The sinister plan of the United States is to create a humanitarian crisis in order to trigger social unrest.
We call on this Council to condemn the flagrant violation of the Cuban people’s right to health.
Thank you very much.