Genocidal Consequences of U.S. Blockade on Cuban People
Updated Report on Damages Caused by
Illegal U.S. Blockade
On September 12, member of the Political Bureau and
Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
presented to the national and foreign press the updated
report
on the
damages caused by the longest and most comprehensive
blockade in
history. The report, entitled Tumba el Bloqueo
(Overthrow
the
Blockade), covering the period from March 2023 to
February
2024, provides objective information and valuable data
that
further
substantiates the denunciation of this grave injustice
which is
causing
the Cuban people their most challenging hardships since
the
early years
of the Revolution, including the Special Period in the
1990s.
From
March 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, the U.S. blockade
caused
damages
and material losses to Cuba estimated in the order of
U.S.$5.057
billion, which means an increase of $189.8 million as
compared
to the
figure reported in the previous report. This represents
an
approximate
damage of more than $421 million a month, more than $13.8
million a
day, and more than $575,683 in damages for each hour of
blockade. At
current prices, the accumulated damages during more than
six
decades of
this policy amount to $164.141 billion. Based on these
numbers,
minister Parilla stated that without the blockade Cuba's
GDP
could have
grown by around eight per cent in 2023.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the offensive against tourism; the baseless allegations of sonic attacks against U.S. diplomats to justify Cuba's designation as an unsafe country; the persecution of international medical cooperation agreements, among others, are all part of an improved coercive design intended to prevent the country from receiving the incomes necessary to attend to the increasing needs of the population.
"All the difficulties faced by the Cuban society are not exclusively due to the blockade, but it would be untrue for anyone not to recognize the blockade as the main obstacle to our development. No country in this world, not even those whose economies are much more prosperous and robust than the Cuban economy, would be able to cope with such a ruthless, asymmetric and protracted aggression without a high cost on the living standards of their peoples, their stability and social justice. That cost is being evidenced today in the shortages suffered by Cuban men and women, which include foodstuffs, medicines, fuels, means of transportation; as well as the deterioration of other basic services," he said.
The introduction to the report points out: "During the last few years, particularly in recent months, the aging of the Cuban population and the high rate of migration particularly among the youngest sectors of the society have become quite noticeable. This situation would be quite different if there was not a blockade, which was further tightened after the implementation of the maximum pressure policy by President Donald Trump, which has been maintained by the administration of President Joseph Biden. The U.S. counterparts have no arguments to deny this truth. The blockade is a crime against humanity, an act of genocide and a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of more than 11 million Cubans. It is a cruel punishment policy."
Minister Rodríguez stated that it was unacceptable for the U.S. to ignore and disregard the call of the international community to put an end to this illegal policy, reflected in the 31 resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the need to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba.
To see the full report click here.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 43 - October 14, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/TS544311.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca