INDEPENDENT experts from the United Nations on Tuesday demanded that the United States remove Cuba from its unilateral list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The group of experts said that Cuba’s prefsence on the list causes economic and financial restrictions that hinder the Cuban government's ability to provide assistance to its people.

The group said: “The designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism (SSOT) has added to the challenges already faced by the people of Cuba over the past three to four years, along with serious disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and economic and financial developments that have affected global supply chains and commodity and energy prices.”

“The unilateral designation of Cuba as an SSOT is contrary to the fundamental principles of international law, including the principle of sovereign equality of states, non-intervention in the internal affairs of states and the peaceful resolution of international disputes,” the experts added.

The experts said the designation of Cuba on the SSOT list has triggered a shortage “that affects all priority health sectors, including cardiovascular diseases, paediatric oncology, oncology, obstetrics and gynaecology.”

The experts said: “We urge the United States government to fully comply with all of its international human rights obligations and to take swift action to end these measures.”