The Cuban government has introduced a raft of emergency measures to cope with what it calls the US’ “Genocidal Blockade” that has cut the island off from essentials and is pushing its economy towards collapse.

The office of the Cuban presidency announced a string of specific measures to keep basic services functioning and supply the people with food and fuel.

The emergency measures include rationing fuel, prioritising public services, and overhauling  energy and transport systems as it grapples with severe shortages and growing economic strain.

In a statement published on February 2 by the Office of the Presidency, authorities said the measures were taken “in response to the nation’s current situation, amid the intensification of the “Genocidal Blockade,” using the government’s term for the US sanctions regime. Officials warned that the escalating crisis had made urgent action necessary to safeguard food supply, water access, healthcare, and education.

The new policies will prioritise fuel for essential services, including hospitals, food production, water infrastructure and “hard-currency-generating” activities. Tourism, a big source of foreign excahnge earnings, has already collapsed as tensions rise.

Public fuel sales will be limited, and administrative work will be concentrated into a four-day week. Domestic oil production will continue, while the government expands incentives for renewable energy and speeds up the installation of solar panels for both public and residential use.

In the transport sector, Cuba will cut the frequency of national train services to once every eight days and reduce intercity bus operations. Maritime travel on the Nueva Gerona–Batabanó route will be limited to twice weekly. Despite the cuts, “guaranteed Medibus services (for patients) and transportation for students and teaching staff” will be maintained, the government said. A dedicated transport service for health personnel will be introduced in Havana, alongside a push for electric mobility, including the deployment of solar-powered charging stations and electric vehicles.

Cuban schools and universities will shift toward flexible, hybrid or remote learning models. “Essential content” programmes, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be reactivated, while universities will postpone the “University 2026” conference and organise student relocations back to their provinces of origin.

In the labour sector, telework and remote work will be encouraged. If temporary work interruption becomes necessary, employees will receive one month of basic salary. Workers may also be reassigned to “key economic activities or areas of social interest,” the statement noted.

Food production will be intensified at the local level, focusing on territories with the highest output potential. The state will promote partnerships across public and private producers to stabilise distribution and pricing. Fuel will be allocated to maintain water pumping, and resources will be directed toward chemical production for water treatment.

The Ministry of Tourism will consolidate facilities to lower energy use during the high season. Special education services will continue without changes due to their “high sensitivity”.

Cuba has blamed the US embargo, in place since 1962, for a growing humanitarian crisis on the island, which has been compounded by reduced remittances, limited access to credit markets, and plummeting foreign currency earnings. The Biden administration has so far maintained key aspects of the sanctions, despite calls from regional leaders and rights groups to ease restrictions.

“We are in a very complex situation, but we will not allow our people to be left without basic services,” the government said.

Cuban government’s emergancy measures:

Energy sector

• Prioritise fuel for essential services: health, water, food production, defence, and hard-currency-generating sectors
• Limit public fuel sales until conditions improve
• Concentrate core administrative activities from Monday to Thursday
• Expand solar photovoltaic installations in homes and public centres
• Accelerate delivery of solar panels to health and education workers
• Install 5,000 solar modules in isolated homes, plan 5,000 more for social centres
• Increase incentives for renewable energy in homes and enterprises
• Continue development of domestic oil production

Transport sector

• Guarantee fuel for ports, airports, and transport of food, fuel, and medical supplies
• Reduce Nueva Gerona–Batabanó ferry to twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
• Limit national passenger trains to once every 8 days (starting February 8)
• Reduce national bus departures; suspend waiting list service
• Offer refunds for cancelled rail and maritime tickets within 30 days
• Maintain Medibus and student/staff transport
• Reorganise local public transport based on fuel availability
• Launch a new transport service for health workers in Havana
• Expand electric mobility: install solar charging stations and distribute electric vehicles

Education sector (general)

• Keep daycare centres open (may reduce hours)
• Maintain in-person primary education with flexible hours
• Use blended or condensed schedules for secondary and pre-university levels
• Prioritise transition grades (e.g. 7th, 9th, 12th)
• Temporarily redistribute IPVCE students to urban schools
• Implement local school-based training for final-year technical/pedagogical students
• Resume “essential content” model from COVID-19 period
• Accelerate solar panel delivery to teachers

Higher education

• Transition to blended learning by degree programme
• Repatriate students to their home provinces
• Support studies through local institutions and workplaces
• Relocate professors to strengthen municipal campuses
• Use telework as main method despite ICT limitations
• Prioritise strategic R&D remotely
• Ensure completion of final exams and thesis defences
• Reorganise university admissions
• Postpone “University 2026” event

Labour and social security

• No new labour rules; apply existing contingency measures
• Promote telework and flexible schedules
• Reassign workers to essential or socially important areas
• Allow temporary work suspension with one-month guaranteed basic salary

Food and water

• Boost territorial food production in high-potential areas
• Strengthen collaboration between state and private producers
• Use renewable energy in food production
• Allocate fuel to ensure water pumping
• Focus industry output on chemicals for water treatment

Other sectors

• Tourism: reduce energy use and consolidate operations during high season
• Culture and sports: adjust activity schedules
• Science and environment: maintain resources for early warning systems
• Special education: maintain operations with tailored service guarantees