March 9, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kelowna Nonprofit Delivers Critical Aid to Cuba Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Kelowna, BC — As conditions in Cuba continue to deteriorate due to fuel shortages, power outages, and limited access to basic necessities, a Kelowna-based nonprofit is stepping in to support vulnerable communities.
One Shared Future – Un Futuro Compartido aims to provide the resources required by grassroots Cuban-led initiatives so that they can respond to the needs of their neighbourhoods and communities.
Over 750,000 Canadians visited Cuba last year, drawn by its beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, and rich cultural heritage. Canadians historically account for approximately 40 percent of the country’s foreign visitors. Earlier this year, Canadian airlines suspended regular routes to Cuba as local authorities indicated that airports could not guarantee jet fuel for return flights.
Today, rampant inflation and a strained economy have left the average state salary worth less than $13 per month at the informal exchange rate. Essential food items have become increasingly unaffordable, with a carton of 30 eggs costing nearly half of a typical monthly income. Approximately 65 percent of the population works in the public sector, including doctors, university professors, and other highly trained professionals.
On February 26, 2026, the United Nations’ top official in Cuba warned that the humanitarian consequences of the United States’s oil blockade are worsening daily. Many Cubans are skipping at least one meal a day, while prolonged power outages—often lasting between 18 and 24 hours—leave food spoiled without refrigeration. As families turn to coal for cooking, prices have surged from 25 cents to $5 per bag, forcing many to choose between buying food or what they need to cook it.
Water access has also become a major concern. Roughly 10 percent of the population relies on tanker trucks for drinking water, while 84 percent of water pumping equipment depends on electricity.
Fuel shortages have also disrupted garbage collection, leaving piles of waste in the streets that contribute to increased mosquito populations. This has led to a surge in mosquito-borne diseases, including more than 45,000 reported cases of chikungunya, a debilitating illness marked by sudden fever and severe joint pain that can last months or even years.
While healthcare in Cuba remains free and its doctors are widely respected for their training and community-based approach, the system faces a critical shortage of medicine and medical supplies. In some cases, the lack of antibiotics has resulted in preventable amputations to stop infections from spreading. Families are often required to bring medical supplies—such as sutures, needles, and catheters—to hospitals before procedures can be performed. Many patients are forced to seek medicines on the black market at prices up to 50 times higher than official rates. Since February, hospitals have been forced to prioritize emergency care, maternal and child health services, and cancer treatment, often operating on limited generator power.
In response to these challenges, members of the Kelowna-based registered Canadian nonprofit One Shared Future – Un Futuro Compartido will be traveling to Cuba to bring urgent relief. Founded in 2025, One Shared Future’s aim is to empower Cuban communities to care for their most vulnerable members, including infants, seniors, individuals with disabilities and homeless animals.
“While our organization is quite new, it was born out of years of personal relationship building with Cubans on the island and beyond,” says Leanne Isaak, One Shared Future’s founder. “All of our donations are placed directly into the hands of Cubans we know personally who are leading inspiring community projects.”
One such project is a free pharmacy in Havana that gives away critical medication at no cost. Run entirely by volunteers, the project serves as a lifeline for city residents who can’t afford the exorbitant prices of medication on the black market while state pharmacy shelves go unstocked.
At another, a Havana residence for persons with severe mental and physical disabilities, lack of access to reliable water has made it nearly impossible to maintain basic hygiene standards. In response, One Shared Future will be delivering a donated solar powered water pump. Having reliable access to water through intensifying power outages will enable the nuns who care for these individuals to resume regular washing of clothing and bedding.
Over the past three years, an estimated 10 percent of Cuba’s population has emigrated, most of them between the ages of 15 and 59. Combined with declining birth rates, this migration has left a growing proportion of elderly residents living alone. Community organizations such as the Geriatric Centre in Old Havana provide free hot meals and healthcare support to seniors who no longer have family caregivers nearby.
Migration has also contributed to a rise in abandoned pets, with volunteer-run animal rescue groups funding their own efforts to rehabilitate and rehome animals. One Shared Future aims to provide resources to these grassroots groups so they can continue supporting their communities.
On March 18, members of One Shared Future will fly to Cuba via Mexico carrying approximately 700 pounds of donated medicine, medical supplies, nutritional supplements, and solar-powered equipment to help address urgent needs.