The Cuban regime continues to secure foreign financial assistance while the country grapples with an ongoing energy crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, and a lack of domestic investment.
This past Saturday, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) announced a $4.5 million grant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aimed at restoring energy access in the provinces of Havana, Artemisa, and Mayabeque.
Signed at the Doha Forum 2025, this agreement is part of a humanitarian campaign to restore essential public services, such as hospitals, schools, and food production systems in areas hit by a hurricane in the western part of the island.
However, such aid often serves as a political and economic lifeline for the regime, without resulting in any lasting improvements for the Cuban populace.
QFFD revealed on social media platform X that the project is expected to benefit over 2.2 million people.
Present at the ceremony were Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of QFFD, Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, its director general, and Alexander De Croo, the UNDP administrator.
The UNDP office in Cuba also expressed gratitude on X for Qatar's support, stating that the cooperation would “facilitate energy access for basic activities among populations affected by hurricanes.”
Nonetheless, the agreement highlights Cuba's reliance on multilateral financing mechanisms, which, although managed by the United Nations, end up sustaining inefficient state infrastructures controlled by the Communist Party.
International aid—from Qatar, China, or Russia—has helped keep Cuba's power structures afloat in recent years, while the absence of genuine economic reforms, rampant corruption, and oppression continue to deepen the internal crisis.
This new funding from QFFD joins other projects channeled through the UNDP and cooperative organizations, which, despite operating under humanitarian frameworks, ultimately bolster the official narrative of a state surviving on “international solidarity,” while the population endures blackouts, under-resourced hospitals, and a teetering electrical grid.
Amidst deteriorating conditions, the regime consistently finds ways to access external funds, masking its structural failures under the guise of “resilience and sustainable development” projects.
The Cuban regime has leveraged the impact of hurricanes to secure a steady flow of international humanitarian aid. Although this aid is justified under urgent social assistance criteria, it effectively serves as political support for an inefficient system.
Alongside Qatar's recent $4.5 million grant to restore energy infrastructure in Havana, Artemisa, and Mayabeque, there are other similar initiatives reinforcing this dynamic.
The World Food Programme recently delivered emergency food rations intended for over 900,000 hurricane-affected individuals, prioritizing children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
However, state-controlled distribution lacks independent oversight mechanisms.
In parallel, the International Red Cross sent humanitarian relief to the eastern part of the country, including mattresses, kitchen utensils, and hygiene kits for over 500 displaced families.
While these deliveries are critical, they have not been accompanied by structural reforms to prevent social collapse after each climatic event.
From Europe, Spain dispatched 36 tons of humanitarian aid to Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Las Tunas, including food, hygiene products, kitchenware, and school supplies.
This donation, funneled through state institutions, has raised concerns about its final destination and transparency of use.
Also from Asia, a donation campaign coordinated by Vietnam raised over $170,000 in cash and goods for Cuban authorities, further cementing a trend where regime-aligned governments bolster its legitimacy without demanding reform or accountability.
Understanding Qatar's Financial Support to Cuba
What is the purpose of Qatar's $4.5 million grant to Cuba?
The grant is intended to restore energy access in Havana, Artemisa, and Mayabeque provinces as part of a humanitarian effort to rebuild essential public services affected by a hurricane.
How does the Cuban regime benefit from international aid like this?
While intended for humanitarian purposes, such aid often serves as a political and economic lifeline for the regime, without resulting in significant improvements for the Cuban population.
Who will benefit from the QFFD project in Cuba?
The project is expected to benefit over 2.2 million people in the affected provinces by facilitating access to energy for basic activities.