Cuba fuel crisis intensifies under U.S. embargo, international community extends humanitarian aids

As Cuba's fuel shortage deepens following a U.S. oil embargo imposed last month, Russia, Mexico and Chile have stepped in with humanitarian assistance while also calling for dialogue to ease tensions and address the sanctions.

On January 29, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to the Caribbean nation. The embargo has sharply worsened the island nation's energy shortages, disrupting critical social services including healthcare and transportation.

"It is really serious. It hasn't been so tough for Cubans for many, many years. It isn't just the fact that some airlines can't come in -- some ones aren't coming in -- because they can't get fuel to get out. It means that the tourist industry, what little was left, has collapsed. And also cargo flights aren't getting in. Remember that without fuel, there's no electricity. There are constant blackouts. Hospitals are in trouble. The government's had to ration fuel. How do you get to work if public transport isn't working? So times really are very tough," introduced CGTN correspondent in Cuba Michael Voss.

"The Cubans are resilient. How can they manage to keep 1950s American cars on the road without any spare parts? Now people, for example, are stockpiling carbon so that they can cook on it. It's times [which] are very tough and it's very difficult to know where it's going to go from here," he added.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia hopes to pursue constructive dialogue with the U.S. regarding the embargo and does not seek escalation over its assistance to Cuba. Russian media Izvestia, citing the country's embassy in Havana, reported that Moscow will soon deliver crude oil and fuel to Cuba as humanitarian aid.

The same day, two Mexican Navy logistics vessels carrying approximately 814 tonnes of humanitarian supplies docked at the Havana Port. The shipment, including milk powder, meat products, beans, biscuits and hygiene items, marked the first Mexican government aid to arrive following Washington's tariff warning. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the assistance as a gesture of "solidarity" and said Mexico is willing to facilitate dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba if both sides agree.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric also announced humanitarian support for Cuba, criticizing the recent tightening of U.S. measures as criminal actions and infringement to human rights of the whole Cuban nation, and calling for an end to the decades-long blockade. He said that while disagreements may exist, civilians, particularly children, should not bear the consequences.

The president also urged the international community to heed repeated United Nations General Assembly calls to lift the sanctions.

Cuba fuel crisis intensifies under U.S. embargo, international community extends humanitarian aids

Cuba fuel crisis intensifies under U.S. embargo, international community extends humanitarian aids

Cuba fuel crisis intensifies under U.S. embargo, international community extends humanitarian aids

Cuba fuel crisis intensifies under U.S. embargo, international community extends humanitarian aids

South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.

The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.

Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.

He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.

"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.

The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.

"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.

This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.

The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.

"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.

"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.

In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.

"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.

As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.

Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub