EU steps in with aid as Cuba faces energy crisis

The European Commission has announced an additional €2 million in humanitarian aid for Cuba, as living conditions on the island continue to deteriorate. The funding is aimed primarily at securing food and drinking water for a population grappling with an energy crisis and an increasing shortage of necessities.

The situation worsened after the United States curtailed Venezuelan oil supplies in early January, triggering widespread power cuts across the country. According to local health officials, the outages are heightening health risks, particularly for patients with serious illnesses.

Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for crisis management, said the support is intended to provide essential supplies to around two million people. The funding builds on assistance already delivered by the EU in the aftermath of a recent hurricane.

Despite the disruption to fuel imports, a new oil shipment has recently reached Cuba. A Russian-flagged tanker carrying roughly 700,000 barrels docked at the port of Matanzas at the end of March, marking the first major delivery since the shift in US policy.

(reuters, max)