MPs raise alarm over Cuba’s deepening humanitarian crisis due to Trump’s siege
Campaign News | Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Jeremy Corbyn MP raising the urgent question in the House of Commons
Parliament heard powerful testimony on Monday 8 June, as MPs from across the political spectrum highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Cuba and called for urgent action to ease the suffering caused by Trump’s siege.
The debate was secured by Jeremy Corbyn MP following his recent visit to Cuba with Richard Burgon MP and CSC’s Natasha Hickman, during which they delivered medical aid to a cancer hospital and witnessed first-hand the impact of fuel shortages. Corbyn asked the Foreign Minister if she would make a statement on the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the island.
Foreign Office Minister Chris Elmore acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that the UK Government is concerned about shortages of “food, fuel and essential medicines” and reiterating Britain’s long-standing opposition to the US blockade. He noted that the UK has opposed the blockade at the United Nations for nearly 30 years and recognised that it continues to place “significant constraints on Cuba’s economy and its access to international finance.”
Drawing on his recent visit, Corbyn described the human consequences of the blockade in stark terms. He told MPs:
“Forever seared in my memory is the sadness in the eyes of the hospital director as he tried to deal with the catastrophic loss of power and loss of medicines.”
He urged the UK Government to provide humanitarian assistance, including fuel supplies, and highlighted the devastating impact of US sanctions on Cuba’s economy.
Richard Burgon also spoke from direct experience, having accompanied Corbyn on the delegation in March. He told the House:
“I saw with my own eyes that Trump’s fuel blockade was having a devastating humanitarian effect on millions of ordinary Cubans.”
Burgon welcomed the Government’s continued opposition to the blockade at the UN and called for disputes between nations to be resolved “through dialogue and with respect for international law”. He urged ministers to continue pursuing diplomacy as the best route forward.
Steve Witherden, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Cuba detailed the devastating impact of Trump’s sanctions on the health service, describing “nurses manually hand pumping ventilators so sick babies can breathe, and plastic carrier bags being used instead of colostomy bags.” He said, “we have the aid needed here” and asked if the UK Government would “defy Trump’s monstrous blockade and get it into Cuba.”
The debate demonstrated growing concern across party lines. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Monica Harding condemned what she described as “Trump’s reckless blockade”, arguing that it is “exacerbating the humanitarian crisis facing Cubans”. She highlighted reports of a backlog of 96,000 surgeries, more than one million people without reliable drinking water and worsening fuel shortages, while noting that UN experts have characterised the policy as “energy starvation”.
Scottish National Party MP Seamus Logan similarly emphasised the human cost, describing the situation as a “deepening man-made humanitarian crisis.” Logan called on the UK Government to oppose any escalation and to continue pressing Washington to ease measures that are contributing to what he called an “impending disaster for the Cuban people”.
Throughout the debate, Chris Elmore repeatedly returned to the humanitarian consequences facing ordinary Cubans. He highlighted UK support delivered through the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the UN emergency response system, and confirmed that officials are examining additional assistance. He told members that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing a fuel management specialist to the World Food Programme to help overcome fuel shortages that are obstructing aid delivery.
Elmore also stressed that decisions about Cuba’s future “should be for the Cuban people” and reaffirmed that dialogue, rather than coercion, remains the UK Government’s preferred approach.
The debate provided a rare opportunity for Parliament to focus on the real human consequences of the US blockade. Contributions from MPs across the House reflected growing concern that ordinary Cubans are paying the price.
You can watch the full debate on Parliament Live here.
