A recent escalation in US policy toward Cuba is disrupting longstanding international medical programmes, with potential consequences for healthcare systems across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The measures, which target the deployment of Cuban doctors abroad, are part of broader economic and diplomatic pressure on Havana, a country that has been under US sanctions for decades.Cuba’s overseas medical missions have historically been a central component of its international engagement and a significant source of revenue.

Since the 1959 revolution, the Cuban government has deployed medical professionals to countries facing shortages, initially responding to crises such as the 1960 earthquake in Chile. Over time, these efforts evolved into formal bilateral agreements, with Cuban doctors providing services in underserved regions across Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond.

According to Tiago Rogero, South America correspondent for The Guardian, these programmes have become increasingly constrained due to US pressure on host countries. Washington has argued that the arrangements amount to exploitative labour practices, citing the Cuban state’s retention of a portion of doctors’ earnings.

While some testimonies from medical personnel have supported claims of exploitation, Rogero noted that this does not represent the majority view among those involved. Analysts cited in his reporting suggest that financial considerations specifically limiting revenue flows to the Cuban government—are a central factor behind the policy.

The withdrawal of Cuban medical personnel is already affecting healthcare provision in several countries. A number of governments have ended their agreements with Cuba, in some cases under pressure linked to US sanctions mechanisms such as financial restrictions and visa policies. These measures have reduced the availability of healthcare workers in regions that were already facing shortages.

Cuban doctors have played a significant role in filling gaps in national health systems, particularly in remote or low-income areas where local capacity is limited. In countries such as Brazil, they have been deployed to underserved communities, often in roles that domestic practitioners were unwilling or unable to fill.

Their presence has been part of a broader strategy sometimes referred to as “medical diplomacy,” through which Cuba has combined healthcare assistance with international cooperation.Beyond their immediate service delivery, Cuban medical programmes have also included training initiatives for foreign students in Cuban institutions.

This has contributed to building healthcare capacity in partner countries, although such efforts typically require long-term investment before yielding results.The current policy shift is raising concerns among healthcare professionals and development experts about the absence of alternative arrangements.

Rogero reported that non-governmental organisations and local practitioners anticipate a worsening of healthcare access in affected regions. “Most of these countries do not have enough doctors of their own,” he said, adding that the termination of Cuban programmes is not being matched by new support mechanisms.

The policy comes in the context of a broader reduction in US development assistance. The dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which previously funded health and development programmes in Latin America, has further limited available resources.

Observers note that this combination reduced aid and restrictions on third-party assistance—may intensify existing vulnerabilities in public health systems.The geopolitical dimension of the policy is also evident. US sanctions have long been used as a tool of foreign policy toward Cuba, and recent measures, including tighter fuel restrictions, indicate an expansion of pressure.

While the stated rationale focuses on labour conditions within the medical missions, analysts suggest the policy aligns with broader efforts to constrain the Cuban state economically.For recipient countries, the immediate concern remains service continuity. Healthcare systems in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean rely heavily on external support to address shortages in personnel and infrastructure.

The removal of Cuban doctors is expected to disproportionately affect rural and low-income populations, where access to medical care is already limited.Rogero emphasised that the impact will be most acute among vulnerable groups. “How will they cope now without the few doctors they had?” he said, pointing to the lack of contingency planning. In many cases, Cuban medical teams represented the primary or sole source of healthcare provision in certain communities.

The situation underscores the interconnected nature of global health systems and the role of international cooperation in addressing disparities. As policy decisions reshape these arrangements, the consequences are likely to be felt most strongly at the local level, where healthcare access depends on sustained and coordinated support.

The talks, involving a group described as Trump’s “Board of Peace,” focused on whether DP World could partner in overseeing logistics for humanitarian aid and commercial goods entering the Gaza Strip, according to the report.

Details of the proposed arrangement, including governance structures or timelines, were not disclosed. Reuters could not independently verify the discussions.

Any such initiative would come amid ongoing international efforts to plan for reconstruction and aid delivery in Gaza, where infrastructure has been severely damaged by conflict.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly 900 Rohingya were reported dead or missing last year during dangerous sea crossings in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal the highest toll on record for the crisis.

More than 6,500 Rohingya attempted the journeys in 2025, with over one in seven perishing, making it the deadliest maritime route globally for refugees and migrants, the agency said.

Despite the risks, departures have continued into 2026, with more than 2,800 Rohingya already embarking on similar voyages by mid-April, often aiming to reach Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand.

The surge in fatalities reflects a combination of factors, including ongoing violence in Myanmar, deteriorating conditions in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, and declining international aid. The UNHCR said its $200 million appeal for Rohingya support in 2026 remains significantly underfunded.

Recent incidents underscore the dangers. Earlier this month, about 250 people were reported missing after a boat carrying Rohingya capsized in the Andaman Sea, one of several deadly accidents linked to overcrowded vessels and rough conditions.

Overall, more than 1.3 million Rohingya remain displaced across the region, most of them in Bangladesh, where limited resources and uncertain futures continue to drive risky migration attempts.

The charity said escalating hostilities following a U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran on Feb. 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation across the region had severely constrained air, sea and land logistics, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted.

According to the organization, the disruption has caused shipping costs to surge by as much as 50% as aid agencies are forced to reroute deliveries, leaving critical supplies stranded in transit hubs across the Middle East.

At least 410,000 children and their families in crisis-affected regions have been impacted, with essential aid shipments unable to reach their destinations. “The escalating conflict is having grave ripple effects for children far beyond the region,” said Willem Zuidema, the group’s head of global supply chains.

A shipment of medical supplies bound for Sudan remains stuck in Dubai due to the closure of Hormuz-linked routes, putting more than 90 primary healthcare facilities at risk of running out of essential medicines, including antibiotics, antimalarials and fever treatments.

Aid groups are now exploring alternative routes, including overland transport across Saudi Arabia to Jeddah followed by sea shipment to Port Sudan, a shift expected to add between $1,000 and $2,000 per container in additional costs.

In Afghanistan, critical nutrition supplies intended for 5,000 children and 1,400 pregnant and breastfeeding women have also been delayed. Originally scheduled to be shipped from India via Iran, the supplies must now be transported by air at a cost exceeding $240,000, more than the value of the cargo itself.

Shipments to Yemen face similar challenges, with medicines for around 5,000 children still held up in Dubai. For the first time, the organization plans to move these supplies by road, effectively doubling transport costs.

Save the Children urged all parties involved in the conflict to ensure safe passage for humanitarian aid, calling for exemptions that would allow essential goods, including food and medical supplies, to move through critical chokepoints.

“With global humanitarian needs already at record levels, further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and wider region will have grave ramifications,” Zuidema said.

According to a report by the Safa news agency, the devastating air raid struck the Al-Najjar family home in Khan Yunis last week, igniting a blaze that claimed the lives of nine children and inflicted severe injuries on Dr. Al-Najjar’s husband. Adam, the only child to survive, is currently undergoing treatment at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza — the same hospital where his mother works.

In a statement released on Thursday, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its deep concern and ongoing coordination regarding the tragedy.

“Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is closely following the case of Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, whose family was targeted in an Israeli attack in recent days,” the ministry said. “The Italian government is prepared to transfer Adam to Italy for treatment.”

Efforts are now underway to arrange Adam’s transfer, the statement added, noting that all actions would be undertaken in accordance with the wishes of Dr. Al-Najjar and her family. Rome’s outreach comes amid mounting international concern over the escalating civilian toll in Gaza.

Malta has also joined Italy in offering humanitarian support, expressing readiness to provide refuge to Dr. Al-Najjar and her family.

The airstrike that obliterated Dr. Al-Najjar’s home is part of a broader Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The pediatrician, known for her service at Nasser Hospital, was reportedly on duty when the charred remains of her children arrived at the facility. Witnesses say she collapsed in shock upon seeing them.

The attack has stirred emotional reactions across Europe and the Middle East, with several humanitarian organizations urging immediate international intervention to protect civilians in conflict zones.

Italy’s proposal marks a significant diplomatic stance, as Rome seeks to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of the ongoing conflict. Minister Tajani’s office emphasized that Adam’s care and safety are of “paramount importance,” and that Italy stands ready to act on humanitarian grounds.

With Gaza’s health infrastructure teetering on collapse, the potential evacuation of Adam to Italy could mark a rare success story amid a growing humanitarian catastrophe.

As the conflict grinds on, the story of little Adam — an orphaned survivor with the weight of unimaginable loss — is emerging as a powerful symbol of Gaza’s suffering and the urgent need for global action.

According to CNN journalists in Gaza City, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets in search of dwindling food supplies, challenging Hamas’ authority. Hamas claims some of the alleged looters are collaborating with Israel.

“A warning has been issued — those who ignore it bear full responsibility,” Hamas said.

Despite being severely weakened after 18 months of war, the executions underscore Hamas’ continued grip over the territory.

With food stocks nearly exhausted, desperation is growing. On Wednesday night, thousands of Gazans stormed a UN facility and several warehouses in Gaza City, scavenging for flour and canned goods, eyewitnesses said.

On Saturday, the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior accused “a group of outlaws and collaborators with the occupation” of stoking unrest and targeting public and private property.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has rapidly deteriorated. Famine looms over the enclave’s 2.1 million people, following Israel’s decision on March 2 to seal off all aid, including food and medicine.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Medical Complex, warned that “a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.”

He said the risk of widespread deaths from malnutrition is imminent if aid is not restored. On Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died from malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

The U.S. State Department said an announcement on new humanitarian access to Gaza could come “in the coming days,” ensuring that aid reaches Palestinians without falling into the hands of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

“Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty-handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,” a State Department spokesperson said, describing the plan as a product of “creative thinking.” Further details were not disclosed, but a private foundation is expected to oversee the mechanism.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 and has previously carried out dozens of executions, including of individuals accused of collaborating with Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its offensive. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Sunday that “tens of thousands” of reservist call-up orders would be issued this week to intensify operations in the enclave.