In the early hours, four women were apprehended in Oscar Lucero, a locality in the Palma Soriano municipality of Santiago de Cuba. They were caught transporting food items in a wheelbarrow, allegedly stolen from the “La Concepción” storehouse.
The food was intended for individuals affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.
The official account “Héroes del Moncada” reported that among those arrested were the store manager and one of her clerks, supposedly her daughter.
According to the same source, officers from the Revolutionary National Police (PNR) intercepted the women as they attempted to divert the goods. The items were subsequently recovered and returned to the warehouse for redistribution.
The incident sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with users demanding exemplary punishment and condemning the mismanagement of donations.
Most comments condemned the theft, highlighting that the country's economic struggles and the vulnerability of the hurricane victims made this crime particularly egregious.
“Those supplies are for the people; justice will be served,” and “They have no regard for others' suffering. Fight against crime,” were among the numerous reactions. Others questioned, “Why was that merchandise stored instead of being distributed immediately?”
“They shouldn’t just be reassigned, they deserve jail time,” and “This is a widespread issue; hopefully, similar actions are taken in all municipalities,” expressed other users.
Many internet users agreed that the diversion of donated goods is not an isolated incident.
Reports indicated that the aid packages distributed to the victims were often incomplete or varied significantly between recipients, with those responsible frequently going unpunished or being reassigned to different locations.
Common demands include the imposition of criminal penalties, the cessation of using stores as distribution points, direct oversight of shipments, and the establishment of community control mechanisms.
Phrases like “Don’t play with the people's food,” “The full weight of the law,” and “This must not go unpunished” were reiterated throughout the discussions.
The original post was accompanied by photographs of the police operation and the recovered goods.
Although the identities of the detainees and the measures taken have not been officially disclosed, the case continues to draw public attention.
This incident adds to the growing number of citizen complaints regarding the mishandling and diversion of donated resources in emergency situations, fueling increasing distrust of institutional distribution and control mechanisms.
Public Outcry and Management of Emergency Supplies in Cuba
What were the women in Santiago de Cuba accused of?
The women were accused of stealing food supplies intended for hurricane relief from the “La Concepción” storehouse.
How did the public react to the incident?
The public reacted with outrage, demanding severe punishment and criticizing the poor management of relief donations.
What measures were suggested to prevent similar incidents?
Suggestions included imposing criminal penalties, avoiding the use of stores as distribution points, ensuring direct oversight of shipments, and implementing community control mechanisms.