United Nations Agencies Report on Blockade Damages to Cuba

UN agencies and bodies have stated the impact of the U.S. blockade on Cuba in a report addressed to the General Assembly, which will pronounce itself today on the siege made official in 1962.

Around 30 entities sent their criteria to UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who drew up a report on occasion of the 26th vote at the Assembly of a draft resolution on the necessity to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the island, maintained and intensified by the last 11 U.S. presidents.

Most of agencies warned in their considerations the impact of the siege, which ratifies Cuba's accusations that Washington's unilateral sanctions affect all sectors and represent the main obstacle for its development.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reflected the damage of the blockade in the area of medical care.

The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) exposed the impact on the education sector, to which UNICEF, recalling the obstacles it establishes when acquiring books, laboratory equipment and computers, also referred to.

In the case of food security, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) addressed the increase in supplies, the difficulties in importing products for human consumption and in the production of food, derived from the siege.

Regarding the economic scenario, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), stressed that the blockade is still in force and its effects limit the growth of the Caribbean island.

Other UN agencies, among them the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), reported on the document from the Secretary General for the Assembly on the impact of the siege.

For the 26th consecutive year since 1992, the main UN body is analyzing a text that demands the lifting of the blockade, the 25 previous ones were categorically approved.

The initiative adopted in October 2016 had 191 of 193 possible votes, while the United States and Israel abstained.