Santiago de Cuba to Distribute One Pound of Rice Per Ration Book

Local officials in Santiago de Cuba disclosed on Monday that one pound of rice will be allocated to each consumer, aiming to complete the March portion of the regulated Family Basket. As reported by TVSantiago's official Facebook page, this initiative seeks to mitigate the prolonged shortages affecting the residents of Santiago, where rice is a staple food.

The rice distribution will occur through the rationing book system, a centralized distribution mechanism in place for decades in the country. Alongside the rice, laundry and bath soap will also be distributed, depending on the household's composition, for the March-April period.

Additionally, Santiago de Cuba's Dairy Company confirmed the distribution of powdered milk for infants aged 0 to 20 days, as well as for pregnant women and children with chronic illnesses. This announcement has sparked numerous reactions on social media, with citizens voicing their dissatisfaction and concern over the exclusion of children older than 20 days from receiving powdered milk.

"What about children aged 2 to 6 years? They need it too, in case you forgot," commented one user online.

The announcement has reignited debate about Cuba's severe food crisis, characterized by shortages, inflation, and an increasing reliance on imports, exacerbated by the structural and logistical issues of the rationing system. This month, Vietnam donated 10,000 tons of rice to support the distribution of the basic family basket amidst the crisis.

Officials have not specified when the full distribution of the announced products will be completed or whether the coverage will be expanded to include other vulnerable groups.