"Where are the leaders?" This question echoed through a public outcry from a weary Havana resident, overwhelmed by the lack of water, relentless power outages, and the daily struggles faced by thousands of Cubans who can no longer bear the situation.
Elizabeth González Aznar, a Cuban living in the Lisa municipality of Havana, shared a Facebook post that captures the societal exhaustion amid the deterioration of basic services on the island.
Her message sheds light on a harsh reality endured by millions every day: power cuts lasting up to 15 hours—and in some places more than 35 hours—shortages of water, scarce gas supplies, and a critical public hygiene situation.
"The bottled gas service has vanished without any explanation. Power outages extend beyond ten hours, sometimes reaching fifteen, right when families need to cook. Understand that you cannot live without eating. Nourishment is not a luxury; it's a human right," wrote González, demanding answers from authorities and directly addressing Minister Vicente de O’Levy, who oversees Energy and Mines.
González also highlighted the dire state of potable water in her area: "San Agustín, Lisa, has been without water for 22 days. The excuses vary, but the outcome remains the same. Meanwhile, water is wasted through leaks and broken cisterns. Water trucks come every ten days if you complain; otherwise, nothing. There is no shame," she lamented.
Her post, filled with frustration and pain, paints a picture of institutional neglect: entire neighborhoods without water, without gas, without food, surrounded by garbage and mosquitos.
"We are surrounded by dumps and open sewage. How many children have died from arboviral diseases? None from the families of leaders. Does it not hurt? How many more must die?" she asked indignantly.
González further questioned the inequality that dominates daily life in Cuba: "Food and medicine remain a jungle law, survival of the fittest. Workers and retirees go hungry, and nobody notices. People are fighting illnesses without being able to afford even a painkiller or a packet of rehydration salts. Until when?" she wrote.
The post concludes with a straightforward reflection, devoid of slogans or euphemisms: "Where are our rights? What homeland to defend? Yours, not ours. Not like this. This people can endure no more, and where are you?"
Her concise yet powerful message encapsulates the despair of a population surviving without essential services, without explanations, and without hope.
The post emerges amid national blackouts, with extended power cuts in some areas exceeding 35 hours daily, and an unprecedented crisis in food and water supply.
While official media have acknowledged "energy difficulties," authorities have yet to provide a concrete response regarding the extent of the collapse.
In neighborhoods like González's in the Lisa municipality, desperation has replaced patience. With no gas, no water, and food out of reach, daily life has become a struggle to survive another day.
"There is no shame and no answers," she wrote. And her question remains unanswered: "Where are the leaders?"
Understanding Cuba's Current Crisis
What are the main challenges currently faced by Cubans?
Cubans are dealing with prolonged power outages, lack of water, insufficient gas supplies, and a severe shortage of food and medicine, all while living in poor sanitary conditions.
How have the authorities responded to these issues?
Authorities have acknowledged energy issues but have not provided detailed explanations or solutions for the ongoing crisis, leaving many Cubans in a state of uncertainty and frustration.