As the humanitarian conditions in Cuba continue to deteriorate, the European Commission has released an additional €10 million in humanitarian aid to support the country's most vulnerable populations. These include elderly people, children, pregnant and lactating women, and communities in remote areas suffering the most from fuel shortage and the energy crisis.
The aid will prioritise healthcare, including procuring medicines and supporting primary and maternal healthcare facilities; emergency food assistance and nutrition treatment for children and mothers; rehabilitation of water systems and supplies to treat water; and logistics support to hard-to-reach areas and renewable energy solutions.
Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said:
‘For communities in Cuba, daily life has become increasingly difficult, with energy shortages making it difficult to get basic supplies and access healthcare and other essential services. Once again, the EU is showing solidarity with the Cuban people, with additional funding that will allow our partners to provide food, healthcare, clean water and other necessities.’
This additional funding comes on top of the €4 million already approved at the start of this year as a regional allocation for the Caribbean, which has been dedicated mainly to addressing needs in Cuba, and the €2 million reinforcement approved in April.
It also follows the assistance provided last year after hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage in the island. In 2025, a total of nearly €6 million was mobilised for disaster preparedness and emergency response in Cuba.
EU humanitarian aid is solely channelled through humanitarian partners working on the ground.
- Publication date
- 23 July 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
