U.S. blockade tampers with Cuba’s water sector

HAVANA, Cuba, August 27 (ACN) Cuba’s National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) issued a report denouncing that the U.S. blockade of Cuba “is a permanent aggression that affects every drop of water that reaches our homes, prevents us from purchasing modern treatment and distribution technologies, be it spare parts, pumps, valves, and measuring instruments, and stops us from getting international financing, which rises the cost of logistics, freight, and insurance and limits technical cooperation.

“For these reasons”, the text remarks, “it is not only unfair but also inhumane, as it has caused losses amounting to more than $10 million in the last year alone: ​​$2.1 million due to the geographic relocation of our trade, $6.1 million in financial costs derived from the concept of country risk, and $1.9 million in lost revenues from frustrated exports.

“Even though the energy crisis is hitting us hard, power outages paralyze the service, and fuel shortages limit transportation and logistics, no essential sector has been halted due to a lack of water, not even health, education, or production. (…) In recent months, 585 water projects have been completed across the country, including 337 pumping stations, many in rural and far-off areas, and 241 kilometers of water supply networks are in operation to bring drinking water to communities that until recently relied on service trucks or unsafe wells.

“Furthermore, 64 kilometers of sanitation networks and 14,000 hydrometers have been installed, and we continue making great strides regarding the rehabilitation of water supply systems in several provinces for the benefit of more than 2 million Cubans.

“In terms of energy self-sufficiency and sustainability, more than 700 solar pumping systems have been installed in rural and remote locations that service 445,000 people without using the national power grid.