By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
Piles of refuse are mounting across Cuba’s capital, Havana, as a worsening fuel crisis linked to United States sanctions has crippled waste collection services on the island.
Authorities disclosed that only 44 out of 106 garbage trucks in Havana remain operational due to severe fuel shortages, leaving waste uncollected in several neighbourhoods. Residents say rubbish has been sitting on street corners for more than 10 days, raising concerns over a looming public health emergency.
“It’s all over the city,” said Jose Ramon Cruz, a Havana resident, lamenting the deteriorating sanitation conditions.
The crisis follows tightened sanctions under US President, Donald Trump, who recently described Cuba as a “failed nation” amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana.
The fuel shortage deepened after the US cut off crucial oil supplies previously imported from Venezuela, a move that came in the wake of political upheaval involving Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
In response to the worsening humanitarian situation, Mexico dispatched two navy vessels carrying about 800 tonnes of aid to Cuba last week. Spain also announced plans to channel assistance to Havana through its development agency and the United Nations following talks in Madrid between Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.
Rodriguez has criticised what he described as “violations of peace, security and international law” stemming from the intensified US measures.
The fuel crunch has also disrupted aviation operations. Several foreign airlines have suspended flights after Cuba temporarily halted jet fuel supplies, leaving tourists stranded at Jose Marti International Airport before emergency repatriation efforts were arranged.
Analysts warn that unless fuel supplies are restored soon, Cuba could face deeper sanitation and health challenges, compounding the island’s already fragile economic situation.
