The World Food Programme obtained 135,000 liters of fuel through partnerships with private individuals authorized to purchase in the United States.
14ymedio, Madrid, June 29, 2026 – More than three months ago, Francisco Pichón, the United Nations resident coordinator in Cuba, told the international press that he was negotiating with the United States to bring fuel for humanitarian purposes to the Island so that aid from the agency could be transported. The situation remains stalled at that level (“Up to this moment, there has been no solution”), although the official said this Monday in an interview with elDiario.es that some quantities have been obtained through Cuba’s private sector.
“It is not enough for the implementation of our action plan, but it has allowed us to move many containers that were already at the port or in warehouses around the country and that had arrived as part of the response to Hurricane Melissa,” he explained. The World Food Programme (WFP) first obtained 15,000 liters of fuel through partnerships with private businesses, thanks to authorization from the Cuban regime allowing them to buy fuel and from Washington allowing U.S. companies to sell only to private individuals on the Island.
Now, Pichón added, a second and much larger shipment has been secured, “120,000 liters that are already in the country.” The official said this allows work to continue, but that a “broader” solution is needed, with access to a minimum and predictable fuel supply, something he continues to advocate and negotiate for from UN offices in New York and Geneva.
The official added that this allows work to continue, but that a “broader” solution is needed, with access to a minimum and predictable fuel supply, something he continues to advocate and negotiate for from UN offices in New York and Geneva.
Pichón said that the UN plan for Cuba has a target of $94.1 million, one-third of which has already been secured, although some areas are better funded than others. He also stressed that without fuel, whatever funding is obtained is of little use, which is why he insists on reaching agreements. He said Mexico was one of the countries most interested in contributing, as was Brazil, but these and other states are waiting for the outcome of the talks with the United States, in which, he says, he is not personally involved.
“The implementation of the action plan depends on access to fuel, and the plan is essential for identifying the fuel needs required in the humanitarian sphere, not to stabilize the country’s economy, but solely for humanitarian purposes,” he added. The priorities are health, food security, water and sanitation, education, housing, and protection of vulnerable populations.
He also said that the WFP has an estimate of the fuel required to maintain those services and the needs of other international NGOs operating on the Island. Everything depends on the solutions that can be reached.
“We know there are political differences among member states, and governments are the ones that have to work to resolve those differences. But we, as the United Nations system, are focused on people, and our humanitarian action is about people’s rights to life and dignity,” he argued.
In the interview, the official provided some indicators of the humanitarian crisis affecting the Island and how living conditions continue to deteriorate. When asked whether it would technically help if Cuba declared an emergency, he avoided going into detail. “We see that there is recognition of the severity of the situation, and there has also been talk about the resilience of the Cuban population, but due to the accumulated impacts of previous disasters and the contraction of the economy by 15% in recent years, that resilience also has its limits, especially with no fuel solution in sight,” he lamented.
In fact, the official complained that virtually all countries and companies are “overcomplying” because of the threat of being penalized
Pichón believes that if the United States facilitated humanitarian fuel shipments, other countries would be less fearful of sanctions. In fact, the official lamented that virtually all countries and companies are “overcomplying” due to the threat of penalties. “Faced with the threat of sanctions from the executive orders, especially the one issued on May 1, these companies avoid exposing themselves to the risk of being sanctioned. This is reflected in contracts and deliveries that are already underway but suffer delays or uncertainty,” he explained.
According to Pichón, the WFP has purchased 2,900 tons of food, but now it must renegotiate how to bring it into the country. “One thing is for suppliers or shipping companies to face restrictions because of the executive order, but another is for them to apply measures that are not part of the restrictions out of fear of being sanctioned, because that shrinks the space for humanitarian action,” he said, while recalling that international law protects humanitarian activities, which cannot be punished.
Unicef has seven affected shipments, Pichón added, valued at $630,000 and consisting mainly of emergency medical kits, supplies for newborns, and nutritional products for pregnant and breastfeeding women. “Some of these supplies have had to be rerouted along alternative routes, which are always longer and more expensive. In the health sector this is especially delicate because there are medicines that require refrigeration,” he lamented.
Regarding the psychological effects of the situation, the official also expressed concern. The shortages of electricity, water, and other vital services, combined with speculation on social media, are generating feelings of psychological distress and exhaustion among the population, especially among children, adolescents, older adults, and their caregivers. “People are increasingly focused on their day-to-day survival.”
Translated by Regina Anavy
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