Sawt Falasteen - Fire at refinery in Havana as Cuba battles fuel shortages

AFP observed a massive column of smoke rising from the Nico Lopez refinery in Havana Bay, though it was not known if the blaze was near the plant's oil storage tanks.

Two Mexican navy ships arrived at the same harbor Thursday with more than 800 tons of much-needed humanitarian aid.

Cuba, already contending with a years-long economic crisis, has risked being plunged into darkness since US President Donald Trump vowed to starve the communist nation of oil.

The Caribbean country of 9.6 million inhabitants lost its main oil supply line when Trump last month ordered the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, the long-term leader of Cuban ally Venezuela.

Trump said no more Venezuelan oil would go to Cuba, and also threatened tariffs for any other country stepping in with crude supplies.

The island, under a US trade embargo since 1962, has for years been mired in a severe economic crisis marked by extended power cuts and shortages of fuel, medicine and food.

No foreign fuel or oil tanker has arrived in Cuba in weeks, experts in maritime transport tracking have told AFP.

Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, have made no secret of their desire to bring about regime change in Havana.

The Republican leader has said Cuba is "ready to fall."

Emergency measures kicked in this week to conserve Cuba's fast-dwindling fuel stocks. The government shuttered universities, reduced school hours and the work week, and slashed public transport as it limited fuel sales.

Staffing at hospitals was also cut back.

The United Nations said Friday it was deeply alarmed by the crisis unfolding in Cuba.

A.AlHaj--SF-PST