Alex Daniel, a young Cuban resident, recently took to TikTok to share a poignant glimpse into the harsh realities of daily life in Cuba. In his video, he describes the lengths he had to go to in order to provide water for his wife's grandparents in the town of Macoba, who were left without even a drop for cooking or personal hygiene.
Speaking with a calm demeanor, Alex recounts the arduous journey he undertook to secure water. Along the way, he hitched a ride on a horse-drawn carriage that eventually broke down, further complicating his already challenging task. Despite the difficulties, he insists it was all worth it, as it was a necessity. "It's the food, it's the water, it's everything, it's the electricity... it's total madness," he shares on camera, visibly worn out. He encapsulates his feelings with a simple yet powerful statement: "This is not living."
Viewers on social media expressed their sorrow in response to his story. Alex responded to several comments, expressing that Cuba has become a constant headache and that living without water is a situation that should never be normalized.
This is not the first time Alex has used social media to shed light on his struggles. In another recent clip, he demonstrated how he resorts to using plastic to light charcoal, due to a lack of electricity and fuel. In this video, also recorded from a rural area, he showed the burns on his fingers from trying to start the fire.
Although his videos lack dramatics and demands, they poignantly convey the weight of everyday challenges. Captured with a simple cellphone, using candid narration, the footage depicts a sobering reality: a wheelbarrow loaded with water tanks, a broken-down carriage, a family desperate for water, and a young man sharing his day without heroics or complaints.
The scarcity of regular access to potable water is one of the most pressing issues facing Cubans. In numerous provinces, water delivery cycles are sporadic, pumping equipment is often out of commission, and the water infrastructure frequently fails. Recent data indicates that over 500,000 people on the island experience disruptions in their water supply.
In places like Havana, the situation has worsened due to frequent power outages causing pump motors to burn out, as detailed in a report on the capital. In areas such as Matanzas, an official newspaper, Girón, published a photo essay capturing residents' desperation to obtain water, showing people carrying jugs or bathing in the streets.
Amidst these challenges, stories like Alex Daniel's continue to emerge from the smartphones of those willing to share them. These accounts do not serve as formal complaints but rather as testimonials of a reality often overlooked by official narratives.
Understanding Water Scarcity in Cuba
What are the primary causes of water shortages in Cuba?
Water shortages in Cuba are primarily due to irregular delivery cycles, malfunctioning pumping equipment, and frequent failures in the water infrastructure. Additionally, power instability exacerbates these issues, particularly in urban areas like Havana.
How do residents cope with the lack of water in Cuba?
Cuban residents often resort to creative solutions, such as using horse-drawn carriages to transport water or improvising with materials like plastic to start fires for cooking due to lack of fuel and electricity.
What impact does the water crisis have on daily life in Cuba?
The water crisis severely affects daily life in Cuba, complicating basic activities such as cooking and bathing. This situation causes significant stress and frustration among residents, who must often go to great lengths to secure essential resources.