Fed Up! Central Havana Residents Take to Reina Street After Days Without Water

This Tuesday, scores of Cubans took to the streets of Central Havana, demanding urgent solutions to the severe water shortage impacting thousands of families in the capital. The protest unfolded on the bustling Reina Street during the night, with social media users sharing videos and images capturing numerous residents blocking the road with buckets, tanks, and empty containers, signaling their frustration over the prolonged lack of water service.

Eyewitnesses reported that the situation has become unbearable, and the government's response has been inadequate. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) emphasized the need to respect fundamental freedoms amid an escalating social and economic crisis. "The right to free expression and assembly must be upheld. Cubans are exhausted by the apathy towards the growing poverty affecting 89% of families," the OCDH stated on its X account. The organization highlighted that the scarcity of water and other essential goods underscores the extent of the hardships faced by the populace.

Last week, the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources acknowledged that the country's water supply is in a critical state. Its president, Antonio Rodríguez, blamed the issues on drought and malfunctioning pumping systems, worsened by power outages. Official reports indicate that around 248,000 people in Cuba lack a consistent water supply, while approximately 860,000 citizens in eastern provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Ciego de Ávila endure severe restrictions.

In Havana, residents assert that the problem is long-standing: entire neighborhoods have gone months without running water in recent years. The deficient infrastructure, coupled with a lack of maintenance and investment, has exacerbated the crisis. Independent experts estimate that a staggering $8 to $10 billion would be necessary to rehabilitate the country's water network.

The water shortage adds to the woes of inflation, power cuts, and the scarcity of food, medicine, and fuel, fueling growing public discontent. "People are taking to the streets because they can't take it anymore," one social media user commented. The protest on Reina Street concluded with the arrival of water trucks, but residents agree that the underlying issue remains unresolved, and the regime fails to provide lasting solutions.

Recurring Water Protests: An Unsolved Dilemma in Havana

Water protests in Havana are part of a chronic issue that has persisted for years without resolution. In March 2025, the regime announced water cuts of up to 12 hours, affecting thousands of families across various municipalities in the capital. In June 2024, residents blocked Reina Street in Central Havana, demanding immediate solutions following days without water supply.

Throughout 2023, citizen complaints surged: in November, women and children led protests for access to potable water; in September, residents hung protest signs after enduring eight months without the service; and in July, inhabitants of a Central Havana building reported going three months without water, forced to carry buckets and containers from distant points.

In October 2022, authorities responded with threats against protesters who blocked streets to express their discontent over the water shortage. Similar protests had already occurred in January 2020 in Central Havana due to prolonged water scarcity.

These events demonstrate that Tuesday's protest in Central Havana is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of public dissatisfaction with an essential service that the regime has consistently failed to reliably provide.