Cuba
In Cuba, HI works in community resilience and disaster risk reduction, promoting the active participation of people with disabilities in society.
People supported as part of an inclusion project in Cuba. | © HI
Our actions
Cuba faces a current humanitarian situation and a high risk of disasters, particularly during the hurricane season, which runs from June to December each year. To help at-risk communities prepare for and respond to these events, HI works with local authorities and civil society organizations on disaster risk reduction and the development of resilience strategies in the provinces of Pinar del Río and Artemisa. The organization supports inclusive health services and builds local partners’ knowledge of risks and their capacity for anticipation and prevention, ensuring that people with disabilities are included in the responses provided. Drawing on their experience and expertise, they help make disaster preparedness plans more effective.
Furthermore, HI is implementing a project to support communities in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which severely affected the island in 2022. In three municipalities, HI is supporting community initiatives that enable residents to restore and sustain their livelihoods. The organization is therefore supporting the development of urban community and family gardens to strengthen residents’ food sovereignty. In addition, HI is helping three schools build disaster-risk preparedness and providing training and awareness-raising for teaching staff.
HI is also promoting inclusion in the country by supporting people with disabilities and their caregivers. To this end, the organization is improving access to quality healthcare services and fostering economic inclusion by developing employment opportunities. HI also provides adapted equipment and assistive devices (walking sticks, wheelchairs, medical beds, etc.) and offers psychosocial support to those in need. HI promotes sport for people with disabilities and women, as part of a drive for equality and social inclusion.
HI encourages capacity-building for people with disabilities, particularly young people and women in rural areas. The organization supports their skills development to promote their participation in socio-economic life and decision-making bodies. To this end, HI works with government ministries, disability organizations, and Cuban civil society associations.
- Number of HI staff: 1 person
- People directly supported by HI in 2025: 44,912 people
- People indirectly supported by HI in 2025: 9,098 people
- Program launch date: 1998
Areas of intervention
Latest stories
Tropical storm Melissa hits the Caribbean with full force
In Haiti and Cuba, where HI teams are based, the damage is considerable. There are fears that humanitarian needs will skyrocket.
In Cuba, HI promotes inclusive food sovereignty
In Pinar del Río, the development of inclusive, family-based urban agriculture is helping communities to become self-sufficient and resilient in the face of disasters, while strengthening social ties.
Ensuring equal rights for everyone in Latin America and the Caribbean
Based in seven countries in the region, HI has been growing its operations in the past few years to meet increasing humanitarian needs. We interviewed Nicola Momentè, HI’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
a life
Background
Cuba, a Caribbean island with a population of around 11 million, has been experiencing a deep socio-economic and humanitarian crisis for several years, marked by shortages, persistent inflation, and major structural challenges. More than 2 million people in the country need humanitarian aid, with urgent needs for access to food, healthcare, and energy.
The Republic of Cuba became a socialist state after the revolution in 1959. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the country—whose economy had been closely tied to the USSR—entered a long period of economic challenges, which culminated in the gradual diversification of the national economy. Nevertheless, in 2026, the socio-economic situation remains tense: after two years of economic contraction, growth is struggling to regain momentum, held back by the energy crisis, the tightening of US sanctions in 2026, the collapse of tourism, and monetary instability. Power cuts, which can last up to 20 hours a day, and shortages of basic goods (food, medicines) have increased poverty and inequality.
Humanitarian crises are worsening disasters (hurricanes, floods), and deteriorating health and education infrastructure are exacerbating precarious living conditions. For instance, Cyclone Melissa in 2025 affected 3 million people, causing massive flooding, infrastructure destruction, and population displacement. Health, water, and electricity systems were severely disrupted, exposing the most impacted populations – particularly children, older people, and people with disabilities – to increased risks of disease and malnutrition. According to the UN, thousands of people, particularly children and older people, are suffering from malnutrition and a lack of access to healthcare.
In this context, people with disabilities face additional barriers to accessing essential services, despite the Cuban government’s efforts to promote their inclusion.
- Population: 10.9 million
- HDI: 0.762 (2023)
- GDP: USD 107.35 billion (2024)
- GDP per capita: ~9,605 USD (2024)
