Geneva, 14 October 2026. Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations in Geneva, delivered a statement at the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme today.
The Cuban representative stressed that one of the consequences of the current dangerous and unsustainable international situation is the existence of more than 117 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, a figure that is expected to exceed 131 million in 2027, reaching a historic record. In 2026 alone, UNHCR has had to respond to 22 emergency declarations in 18 countries.
He warned that, while the number of displaced people continues to grow, humanitarian assistance to address their needs is declining. Many wealthy countries are contributing increasingly fewer resources, with the private sector becoming, for the first time, the main source of funding for UNHCR, a development that is cause for concern.
The Cuban Ambassador emphasized that the only way to reduce the number of refugees and displaced persons is to address the root causes that force them to flee.
“We must move from managing displacement to resolving it. Real success will lie in creating the conditions in which people no longer need UNHCR,” he stated.
Also denounced the extreme intensification of the United States economic blockade against Cuba, including the imposition of a brutal energy blockade, aimed at provoking a humanitarian crisis in order to destabilize the country and achieve political objectives.
“The blockade against Cuba,”- he stressed-, “is a genocide that silently suffocates and kills. It is collective punishment that claims lives and causes anguish among the entire Cuban population.”
Benítez Verson argued that it would be impossible to ignore the fact that the economic blockade is the main reason why many Cubans have opted to pursue personal fulfilment abroad, either temporarily or permanently.
“Cuban families suffer the distress and pain of separation artificially imposed by inhumane measures that affect our entire people and are reflected in high rates of emigration. This has a devastating impact on the nation,” he added.
Likewise explained that behind every displaced person lie painful and tragic human stories, as those on the move frequently face serious risks, including dangerous journeys and exploitation by smugglers and human traffickers.
The Cuban representative called on UNHCR to assess the impact of unilateral coercive measures on human mobility, as exemplified by the criminal and illegal blockade against Cuba.
The Ambassador concluded by reaffirming Cuba’s readiness to continue contributing actively and constructively to UNHCR’s necessary and valuable work.