# U.S. embargo leaves Cuba without power or medicine

> Cubans face daily blackouts and cannot access lifesaving drugs as U.S. sanctions tighten economic pressure on the Communist government.
- Title: U.S. embargo leaves Cuba without power or medicine · CBS News
- Summary: Cubans face daily blackouts and cannot access lifesaving drugs as U.S. sanctions tighten economic pressure on the Communist government. U.S. embargo and…
- Keywords: cuba, u.s. embargo, sanctions, power blackouts, medicine access, havana, trump administration, marco rubio, news, embargo, leaves, without
- Source: CBS News — https://cbsnews.com/news/us-embargo-sanctions-cuba-power-medicine
- Author: Matt  Gutman
- Published: 2026-10-16T17:03:19+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cuba, u.s. embargo, sanctions, power blackouts, medicine access, havana, trump administration, marco rubio, news
## Blackouts grip Cuba as embargo bites
A strict U.S. embargo on oil imports has left Cuba's electrical grid near collapse. Most places in Havana receive only a few hours of electricity daily, often less.
## Medicine vanishes from Cuban hospitals
Doctors in Cuba's once-renowned public health system say they can no longer source critical, lifesaving drugs for pediatric patients. Some Cubans now buy from black-market street vendors.
## Trump tightens pressure with new sanctions
The Trump administration imposed new sanctions against Cuba's state-run bank on Thursday, claiming ties to Iran. Cuba's foreign minister calls the move collective punishment and insists the bank is absolutely legitimate.

> absolutely legitimate
## Key takeaway

U.S. embargo and sanctions on Cuba have crippled power supplies and medicine access, leaving citizens in blackouts and forcing them to black-market pharmacies.