Key facts
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk criticized US sanctions on Cuba.
- The UN stated that the sanctions have led to a spike in infant mortality.
- The UN reported plummeting survival rates for child cancer patients in Cuba.
- The UN described the situation as unacceptable.
The United Nations has issued a strong rebuke against the United States, stating that tighter sanctions imposed on Cuba have led to a significant increase in infant mortality and a decrease in survival rates for children with cancer. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the situation as "unacceptable," attributing it to President Donald Trump's policy of cutting off fuel shipments to the island nation of 10 million people. This pressure campaign, according to the UN, is depriving Cubans of essential access to water, food, and healthcare.