The Irish Government has warned against all “non-essential travel” to Cuba in response to severe fuel shortages affecting the Caribbean nation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has upgraded its travel advisory for Cuba to recommend avoiding “non-essential travel” to the country, the second-highest level of warning issued by the Government.
“This is our second-highest level of warning. Countries or territories at this level have serious and potentially life-threatening risks,” the update reads, adding that the Department’s ability to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in Cuba is “extremely limited”.
The DFA security status overview warns primarily of fuel shortages and power outages in Cuba, resulting in disruptions to water supplies, lighting, refrigeration and communications.
“Challenges to the importation of fuel are compounding ongoing issues with Cuba’s national power grid. There are often prolonged power outages across the country, sometimes lasting over 24 hours. Power outages affect water supply, lighting, refrigeration and communications.
“Access to fuel can be very difficult, with long queues at petrol stations not uncommon. Petrol is currently limited to a maximum purchase of 20 litres. Businesses reliant on backup generation are also experiencing difficulties. In response to the fuel shortage, guests have been moved from the resorts they have booked to other hotels, to maximise efficient use of available power,” the DFA website states.
The Department also highlights disruptions to flights following Cuba’s announcement that airlines cannot currently refuel on the island, which has resulted in a number of route cancellations.
Hospitals and clinics are also described as being impacted by the ongoing shortages.
“While in Cuba, you should take the necessary precautions, including conserving water and food and keeping your mobile phone charged. Please monitor local media for updates, including on power cut schedules, and stay in touch with your airline or travel agent,” the Department says.
Cuba’s economic woes have been compounded in recent months by hits to its oil supply, which come primarily as a result of US blockade and sanction threats.
Oil exports from Venezuela, Cuba’s closest ally, have all but dried up following the removal by American forces of former president Nicolas Maduro from power last month and a US blockade of oil tankers to Cuba.
US President Donald Trump in January additionally issued an executive order imposing tariffs on any country selling or providing Cuba with oil.
Mr Trump in the executive order outlined the United States’ justification for its current approach to Cuba, saying that the Government of Cuba “has taken extraordinary actions that harm and threaten the United States”.
“The regime aligns itself with — and provides support for — numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States, including the Government of the Russian Federation (Russia), the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Government of Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
“Further, contrary to the interests and foreign policy of the United States, the Cuban communist regime supports terrorism and destabilizes the region through migration and violence. The communist regime persecutes and tortures its political opponents; denies the Cuban people free speech and press; corruptly profits from their misery; and commits other human-rights violations,” the executive order reads.