The dire circumstances faced by Cubans were vividly illustrated in Alamar, where an overwhelming crowd gathered in a desperate attempt to purchase rice.
"An entire community trailing a truck"; "Hunger grips society... This entire crowd behind a truck just to buy rice," activist Irma Lidia Broek lamented on Facebook.
The images starkly reveal the desperation and dire need among Cubans amidst severe food shortages: individuals frantically chasing after a truck.
Such scenes have become increasingly frequent in the daily lives of Cubans.
Earlier in November, an incident involving the sale of sausages in a store in Santiago de Cuba escalated into violence when police officers used pepper spray on mothers with children, amidst a frantic crowd striving to obtain food.
This occurred at a store in Micro 3, located in the El Salao neighborhood, which was designated as the sole point of sale for a batch of sausages. Hundreds gathered there, despite the presence of various viruses, including dengue and chikungunya, spreading across the eastern city and throughout the country.
Understanding Cuba's Food Shortage Crisis
What is causing the food shortages in Cuba?
The food shortages in Cuba are primarily caused by the country's struggling economy, exacerbated by the socialist regime's policies and external factors like trade embargoes. These issues have significantly restricted the availability of essential goods.
How are Cubans coping with the food shortages?
Cubans are facing these shortages with resilience, often forming long lines and rushing to buy basic items whenever they become available. Communities are increasingly relying on mutual support and informal networks to share resources.