Retired Cuban Man Struggles Without Power or Money: "Sometimes We Go Days Without Eating"

A retired Cuban man shared his harrowing experience of surviving on the island in a brief interview released by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH). He spoke of enduring constant power outages, lacking financial resources, and being forced to sell what little he has just to put food on the table. "I go to an ATM, and there's no money. So, what do I do? I buy something from sellers and resell it to get even a sweet potato or some rice, anything to survive," he explained.

This account starkly highlights the severe hardships faced by countless elderly individuals in Cuba, where retirement no longer ensures a dignified old age but rather a relentless battle against hunger. The retiree mentioned that frequent blackouts complicate daily life even more. "You can't even cook. You have to use firewood or whatever you can find. Sometimes once a day, and sometimes we go days without eating," he said.

The Stark Reality for Cuban Seniors

His words capture a plight shared by millions of Cubans, but the situation is especially dire for those reliant on a pension insufficient for basic needs. In Cuba, where the population is aging rapidly, inflation and the collapse of public services have turned old age into a period of extreme vulnerability.

The exodus of young people from the island leaves many seniors alone, without family support, and unable to receive remittances from abroad, one of the few remaining lifelines. The government's announcement of raising the minimum pension to 4,000 Cuban pesos was swiftly undermined by the black-market exchange rate, where one dollar is worth over 420 pesos. That pension amounts to less than $10, barely enough for a carton of eggs or a few essentials.

Pensions: A Vanishing Illusion

According to estimates by the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, at least 30,000 CUP monthly is necessary to ensure basic nutrition, meaning the minimum pension covers only a seventh of that amount. What is officially touted as relief is, in practice, an illusion that disappears upon encountering the harsh reality of prices.

"With an average salary of 6,000 CUP, you can't live," admitted Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, a grim acknowledgment that is even more devastating for retirees.

A Widespread Crisis

This retiree's situation is not unique. In August, an 83-year-old man from Ciego de Ávila, Orlando Regueiro Castellano, confessed on camera that he had gone days without eating and was "surviving on air." His desperate plea for "a piece of bread" went viral on social media, symbolizing the neglect faced by the elderly on the island.

Weeks later, state journalist Roberto Pérez Betancourt, winner of the José Martí National Journalism Award, broke his silence on Facebook. At 85, he revealed that he had been without potable water for months, that dengue fever had claimed a neighbor's life on his street, and that he and his convalescing wife were uncertain if they could cook the next day. "I never imagined my old age like this," he wrote, sparking outrage even among state media colleagues.

These accounts add to others documented in Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Havana, where the elderly survive by catching crabs, collecting cans, scouring garbage, or sleeping in makeshift homes without water or electricity.

The Gap Between Propaganda and Reality

The official narrative claims "no one will be left helpless," but the evidence suggests otherwise. After decades of work, millions of Cubans face old age marked by scarcity, loneliness, and uncertainty. The promise of equality fades in the face of endless lines to collect a pension that doesn't cover a week's expenses.

Meanwhile, the government allocates millions to build empty hotels for a dwindling tourism sector. For retirees, every blackout, every increase in the dollar's value, and every day without food is a stark reminder that the regime's priorities are far removed from their needs.