Thousands of shipping containers filled with food, medicine and humanitarian aid bound for Cuba have been stranded across the Caribbean after Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM stopped deliveries to avoid tough U.S. sanctions. The two firms together delivered at least half of Cuba's imports, including most of its food.

The stranded containers include solar panels, medication, colostomy bags and dozens of aid shipments purchased by United Nations agencies. U.S. sanctions have also disrupted air shipments, forcing the World Health Organization to scrap planned deliveries of cancer drugs. A Hapag-Lloyd container filled with over $500,000 worth of medical supplies purchased by Aid for the Caribbean was refused unloading at the Port of Mariel.

The delivery challenges have intensified Cuba's worst humanitarian crisis since the 1959 revolution, worsening food shortages, soaring grocery prices and healthcare collapses. The Trump administration imposed an oil blockade in January and further sanctions in May targeting foreign companies working with Cuban state entities. With no shipping lines willing to transport supplies, spare parts donated by Uruguay remain stuck, and Cuba has suffered at least five nationwide blackouts this year.