CUBAN Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has condemned the US blockade of the socialist island as “a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights.”

Speaking on Tuesday at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Mr Rodriguez also condemned the intensification of Washington’s aggression towards Cuba and its impact on all aspects of the country’s society.

At a meeting of the fourth universal periodic review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council, the foreign minister said: “Since the previous review, the blockade was significantly intensified, with the application of more than 240 additional unilateral coercive measures and the fraudulent inclusion of Cuba in the spurious list of countries sponsoring terrorism prepared by the US State Department.” 

He said that from April 2018 to February 2023, the the blockade has caused damages estimated at about $24.7 billion (around £19bn).

According to Mr Rodriguez, the inhumane nature of the more than six-decade blockade was revealed once again during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the sanctions were tightened by the US government.

Cuba was prevented from acquiring lung ventilators and parts and supplies from subsidiaries of US companies, along with oxygen for the treatment of patients.

Mr Rodriguez reminded the Human Rights Council that, just days ago, the UN general assembly had voted for the 31st year running to demand the lifting of the brutal US blockade. The resolution was backed by 187 of the 193 UN-member nations.

He also said that, in addition to the economic war, Cuba has been the victim of sustained media and communication campaigns, aimed at undermining the Caribbean nation and projecting a false image regarding its respect for human rights.