Attachments
Key Figures
197 refugees and asylum-seekers from 16 countries are under UNHCR’s mandate.
40 per cent lack legal status in the country, and 39 per cent are women and children.
66 refugees need resettlement. Most are from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti, Sudan, and Yemen.
Context
Cuba is not a state party to international refugee instruments. UNHCR ensures refugees are protected against refoulement and granted access to essential services.
In July 2024, the National Assembly approved new immigration and citizenship legislation, introducing the category of humanitarian residents for refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons. However, these laws have not yet been published in the Official Gazette, leaving these groups entirely reliant on UNHCR assistance.
In late 2024, Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael severely impacted Cuba within three weeks of each other. Hurricane Oscar affected eastern Cuba, damaging 14,300 homes and disrupting essential services for 1.4 million people. Cuba had experienced a prolonged nationwide blackout just days before the hurricane's landfall. Shortly after, Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, struck western Cuba, including Havana, affecting 3.5 million people and worsening power outages. The country was also struck by two earthquakes of 6.0 and 6.7 magnitude on the Richter scale. Essential supplies and core-relief items, including kitchen sets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and sleeping mats were provided to the host community and refugee population affected.