DIVYA DELHI: Cuba is grappling with a deepening crisis driven by severe fuel shortages that have disrupted essential services and intensified humanitarian concerns across the island. The fuel scarcity — linked to tightened US sanctions and efforts to choke off oil supplies to Cuba — has crippled garbage collection, leaving rubbish piling up on the streets of Havana and other cities, raising public health risks for residents. Only 44 of Havana’s 106 garbage trucks remain operational amid the widespread energy shortfall, slowing waste removal and prompting sanitation fears. The crisis is part of a broader breakdown in services, as fuel limitations also affect power generation, transportation and the availability of basic goods throughout the country. The shortage stems from a halt in oil imports after the United States intensified its blockade, pressuring traditional suppliers such as Venezuela and Mexico to curb shipments. The Cuban government has responded with strict fuel rationing and prioritized essential sectors, but citizens now face long waits for gasoline, and public transport and sanitation systems are severely compromised. The evolving situation has drawn international concern, with the United Nations and other observers warning that prolonged fuel scarcity threatens food distribution, water systems and healthcare services across the island.
