Monday saw a surge of hunger and anxiety in Santiago de Cuba, as scores of residents swarmed a truck loaded with ground meat amid the looming threat of Hurricane Melissa, currently a Category 5 storm, and the overwhelming desperation to secure food.
The scene, reminiscent of a dystopian future film, underscores the severe deprivation and neglect experienced by Santiago's citizens, who face the formidable hurricane without essential supplies, despite the regime's attempts to portray a facade of normalcy.
According to reports on social media from journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, the incident unfolded on the bustling Avenida Martí, when a truck transporting boxes of ground meat lost part of its cargo.
What began as an accident quickly escalated into a human stampede, with residents scrambling and vying for the packages before the police could intervene.
"Even knives were drawn; people are out of control, hungry, and frightened of the hurricane," a witness recounted to the reporter.
Within minutes, the area was swarmed by patrols and law enforcement attempting to reclaim some of the goods, while others managed to flee with what they dubbed their "hurricane food," the report emphasized.
This event coincides with the initial impacts of Hurricane Melissa being felt in the eastern region, marked by heavy rains and sustained winds.
The population, burdened by shortages, prolonged blackouts, and the threat of arboviruses like dengue and chikungunya, endures moments of profound tension and hopelessness.
"This isn't theft; it's hunger," an elderly woman remarked as she walked away with a package in hand, encapsulating the dire need driving many Cubans to act out of sheer survival instinct.
The chaotic scene in Santiago de Cuba starkly depicts the humanitarian crisis gripping the nation, where food scarcity, the breakdown of basic services, and the impact of natural disasters push the populace to the brink.
This human stampede is set against the backdrop of fear of Melissa, which intensified further on Monday afternoon, reaching maximum sustained winds of 280 kilometers per hour, according to the latest update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).
With these figures, the storm solidifies its status as a Category 5 hurricane, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and the most powerful recorded in the Caribbean in decades.
Crisis and Survival in Santiago de Cuba
What triggered the stampede in Santiago de Cuba?
The stampede was triggered when a truck transporting ground meat lost part of its cargo, prompting residents to rush for the food amidst the scarcity and fear of Hurricane Melissa.
How is the Cuban regime responding to the crisis in Santiago?
The regime has attempted to maintain a facade of normalcy, despite the severe deprivation and neglect faced by the citizens of Santiago de Cuba.
What are the effects of Hurricane Melissa in the region?
Hurricane Melissa has begun to impact the eastern region of Cuba with heavy rains and sustained winds, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis.