the Cubans of all ages go from store to store to find scarce goods, despite the recommendations of experts in health care to stay at home and abide by the rules of social distancing to avoid infection COVID-19. Since then, as last month on the island were reported the first cases of coronavirus, the authorities have closed the border and urged Cubans to go out only in case of emergency, always put on a mask. Disinfectant was included in the register of cards, which residents use to obtain food products.
According to experts, a pandemic caused by COVID-19, was another evidence of the negative impact of the major limitations imposed on Cuba economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington in 1962. In this context, the consequences can cause significant damage by Cubans, and especially Cuban economy, despite all the efforts and capabilities of official Havana to mitigate its impact.
British MPs have signed a petition on the abolition of the U.S. blockade against Cuba
the Embargo against Cuba remains a major obstacle to the purchase of medicines, equipment and materials required to combat the pandemic, and prevents the possibility of providing and receiving international assistance. In particular, the blockade hampers the purchase of medical equipment and technology containing more than 10 percent American components.
the Pandemic has highlighted the fact that the blockade is the main obstacle to Cuba’s development and well-being of the Cuban people, particularly because of its obvious exterritorialLenogo impact that affects virtually all countries of the world. Cuba in conditions similar to other States, does not have access to foreign resources and technologies needed to combat the global pandemic. Ongoing penalties and sanctions against third countries impede commercial transactions of Cuba, including the purchase of medical materials and technologies.
according to Reuters, Cuba imports more than 60 percent of its food, however, during a pandemic, the Cuban authorities were forced to close the border, depriving the budget of hard currency from tourism needed to pay for goods from abroad. Income from tourism accounts for 25 percent of foreign exchange receipts in the budget Caribbean island nation.
the Inability to use dollars and the US financial system in the Cuban international banking operations leads to higher prices of food, given the extra Bank charges associated with the use of other currencies.
the Cuban foreign Ministry accused the US government is ineffective in combating COVID-19
Cuba faced severe food shortages since then, in 1989 started the collapse of the Soviet Union and the situation on the grocery market had further deteriorated after years of tightening sanctions by the United States under President Donald trump. Now the negative effects of the embargo are amplified because the pandemic has exacerbated the monetary crisis in Cuba and violates international trade and food prices. President Miguel Diaz-Kanel ‘ recently warned citizens that they will consume less imported food “due to the current situation.”
Cuba is not a member of the International monetary fonda, the world Bank or other multilateral lending institutions to which she can apply for obtaining emergency financial assistance. In addition, the arrival of charity goods to Cuba from abroad is difficult because of limitations imposed by the blockade on foreign banks, shipping companies and airlines, which have expressed their intention to cooperate with Havana. The ban on entry and transit of vessels traveling to the United States through Cuba, increases the logistics costs of all Cuban international trade transactions. The blockade imposes onerous conditions for shipping companies that Cuba must take.
Minister of economy of Cuba Alejandro Gil said that the only solution is to “find in agriculture the main source of food for people”, but this sector has been an increasingly acute shortage of resources such as foreign fertilizers and pesticides, largely because of American sanctions.
Cuba escorts tourists and is preparing to confront the coronavirus
last week When Cuba came the ships with corn and rice as humanitarian aid from China, it was big news in the state media.
the country is also an acute shortage of fuel as a result of new sanctions imposed by the White house in 2019 shipping, shipowning and insurance companies, carrying fuel to Cuba. According to official data, only 40 percent of the normal fuel reserve and even fewer fertilizers and pesticides were used for winter crops. Planting began before the pandemic in November 2019, the year, and the cleaning ended in March 2020. The official representative of the Ministry of agriculture of Cuba Yojanas Garcia Rodas said that the farmers were able to plant less than half the planned square.di beans that are one of the main dishes in the diet of Cubans, as they had to use oxen for land cultivation due to lack of fuel. In addition, only 15 percent of the 22 million hectares of crops as a result has been treated with pesticides.
meanwhile,
the International community is almost unanimous rejection of the economic blockade of Cuba. In 2019 187 countries supported the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Cuban resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. As noted in the Cuban Embassy in Moscow, at the current stage, the official Havana and the international community is more than ever reason to require the US authorities to fulfil the just demands of the abolition of the blockade, became the most prolonged and inhumane in history.
