Díaz-Canel has assured that "Cuba will resist" the "brutal economic war" that the US uses as a collective punishment

The President of Cuba , Miguel Díaz-Canel, has lamented the " public "and" almost daily "threats made by the United Statesagainst the administration of the island to "forcibly overthrow the constitutional order" of Cuba.

"The United States publicly threatens Cuba, almost every day, to forcibly overthrow the constitutional order. And they also make an angry excuse for the harshest limitation of the weakened economy that they have been trying to attack and isolate for six decades." 

In this regard, Díaz-Canel has said that they "announce plans to take ownership of the country, its resources, its own property and its own economy"and that "only in this way" is the "brutal economic war that applies as a collective punishment against the entire people" ofCuba explained.

That is why he, who is also the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, has warned that "even in the worst scenario, any external attacker will face the island's invincible resistance." 

Canel's words come hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Havana's readiness to initiate "continuous" trade relations with US companies and reiterated Cuba's need for "drastic changes" in its economic policy.  

Rubio said in a joint statement with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office that the changes announced by Cuba "are insufficient and do not solve the problem." 

Donald Trump has labeled Cuba  a "failed state," and presented himself as a man who will be the "honor" of forcing an agreement with the authorities in Havana or, failing that, of making a more direct intervention in that nation.

The Republican tycoon also declared on Sunday that he is "in contact" with Cuba, adding that the island "wants to reach an agreement," but pointed out that the US already has its previous work, citing Iran. 

The UN, concerned about the impact of fuel shortages

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reiterated on Tuesday its "concern" about the impact of fuel shortageson "access to essential services by the population of Cuba", as well as the blackout on Monday across the country. 

"This demonstrates the extent to which the energy crisisis damaging Cuban citizens to access even the most basic services, "he said, pointing out that warning is accumulating uncollected garbage in the capital, Havana," the air quality is deteriorating as a result of the burning of waste and wood for cooking. " 

In this regard, he stressed that "the authorities have reported that due to lack of electricity, 50,000 surgeries were left unperformed in February." He added that "the UN and its members continue to assist people in need", but that "fuel shortages" limit these operations. 

They have explained that "there are currently dozens of containers with humanitarian supplies in the port of Havana and more shipments are expected in the coming days, but fuel shortages slow down and make it more expensive to reach those in need. " 

"The humanitarian community urges Member States to increase their humanitarian contributions and to ensure that aid is provided easily and unimpeded," the OCHA said.