The UN has warned of potential humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba, following Washington’s attempt to block oil supplies from reaching the island.

The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba, increasing pressure on the island nation following a decades-long trade embargo and the U.S. seizure of Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

Venezuela had been the main supplier of oil to Havana, but Washington has been ratcheting up pressure on Cuba in recent weeks.

The pressure includes an executive order  on Jan. 29  threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, including Mexico.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.

The UN chief noted that the General Assembly has been calling for an end to the U.S. embargo for more than three decades.

”The secretary-general urges all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law. The fuel crisis has pushed up food prices for Cubans, led to severe fuel shortages and major power cuts throughout the country.

“Clearly, what we see now, especially after the recent events in Venezuela, is a combination of emotions,” Francisco Pichon, the most senior United Nations official in Cuba, said.

He, however, described “a mix of resilience, but also grief, sorrow and indignation, and some concern about the regional developments”.

Thirty-two Cubans were killed in Venezuela on January 3 in the U.S. operation to capture Mr Maduro, according to official figures.

(NAN)