On Friday, the United Nations said that the U.S. action of blocking Cuba's oil imports is exacerbating the island nation's humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, countries such as Mexico and Chile are delivering food and emergency supplies to Cuba. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that the shortage of imported fuel has led to reduced food supplies and disrupted basic public services such as water supply systems and hospitals in this country with a population of 10 million. After the U.S. military seized the Maduro couple on January 3, it began imposing a blockade on Cuba, cutting off the crucial oil supply line from Venezuela to Cuba. Trump said he now hopes to "reach an agreement" with Cuba to end this pressure. However, the Trump administration claimed that its recent policies are not the root cause of Cuba's difficulties, saying "the man-made humanitarian crisis has been deteriorating for years." In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department also sent two batches of aid supplies to Cuba, worth about $9 million. Cuban President Diaz-Canel had said that the Cuban government is willing to engage with the Trump administration, but he also warned the domestic people that "hard times are coming," and that "giving in to pressure is not an option for Cuba." Economists say that these international aid efforts may have limited effect in alleviating the economic hardship, and due to the shortage of fuel in Cuba, the distribution of food and other supplies on the island will also be hindered.
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