Fuel Blockade Halts Waste Collection in Cuba Due to US Sanctions

US Fuel Blockade Hits Cuba, Leaving Residents Struggling with Waste Management

A severe fuel shortage in Cuba is causing widespread disruptions to waste management services, leaving residents struggling to cope with the mounting rubbish. According to reports, only 44 of Havana’s 106 rubbish trucks have been able to operate due to the fuel shortages, resulting in a significant backlog of waste on city streets.

The situation has sparked concerns over public health, with residents taking to social media to raise awareness about the issue. “It’s all over the city,” said Jose Ramon Cruz, a resident of Havana. “It’s been more than 10 days since a garbage truck came.”

Cuba’s fuel crisis is attributed to the US cutting off crucial oil supplies from Venezuela, which were previously imported by the country. The move follows the US military raid on Caracas and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in early January.

US President Donald Trump has described Cuba as a “failed nation” and called for the country to make a deal with the US. He has also imposed crippling sanctions on countries that supply oil to Cuba, which has further exacerbated the crisis.

In response to the situation, Mexico has sent two navy ships carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba, while Spain has announced plans to channel aid to Havana through the Spanish Agency for International Development and the United Nations. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla has also visited Madrid, where he met with his Spanish counterpart to address the current situation in Cuba.

The US embargo on Cuba remains in place, with Trump stating that he does not intend to remove the Cuban government. The crisis continues to unfold, with residents struggling to cope with the consequences of the fuel shortage and waste management disruptions.

Source: Al Jazeera