finance
Cuban Women Rally in Havana Against US Blockade Amid Energy Shortages
Hundreds of Cuban women gathered in Havana on Tuesday to protest US measures affecting the island's energy supply. The rally, organized by the Federation of Cuban Women, highlighted the impact of fuel shortages on health, transportation, and production. Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal addressed the crowd, criticizing the US policy as a form of collective punishment.
Apr 7, 2:45 PM·2m read1 source
EuronewsAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Havana, Cuba (Substrate) -- Hundreds of Cuban women rallied in a park in Havana on Tuesday to protest the US economic blockade and related measures. The event was organized by the Federation of Cuban Women, an organization with ties to the Cuban government and Communist Party. The rally honored Vilma Espín, the federation's founder, a guerrilla fighter and wife of former President Raúl Castro.
Participants waved Cuban flags, held signs reading 'Down with the Blockade,' and carried pictures of Fidel Castro and Espín. The demonstration was led by Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman, Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal, and Mariela Castro, daughter of Espín and Raúl Castro.
Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it consumes, leading to shortages that have affected the health system, public transportation, and production of goods and services.
The US blockade, including energy-related measures imposed during the administration of President Trump, has contributed to Cuba's economic challenges over the past five years.
In early January, the US arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, disrupting oil shipments to Cuba. Later that month, Trump threatened tariffs on countries selling or supplying oil to Cuba. Despite these threats, a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil arrived in Cuba last week, marking the first such shipment in three months.
Russia has indicated it will send a second tanker. Trump commented on the arrival, stating that Cuba's leadership is corrupt and that the oil shipment would not change the situation. >"This policy of abuse has to stop.
The Cuban people don’t deserve this.
Developments Vidal, who participated in the 2014 rapprochement between Cuba and the US under former President Barack Obama, described the measures as subjecting Cuba to collective punishment under international law.
