A Cuban mother known on Facebook as Gely la flaki has become the focal point of widespread reactions across Latin America after sharing a video. In the video, she is seen making homemade croquettes for her two young daughters using only leftover chicken bones from the previous day's meal, three small taro, cachucha peppers, flour, milk, and Goya seasoning.
Titled "How to Survive in Cuba," the six-minute video starkly illustrates the simultaneous shortages faced by her family: no garlic, no onions, no diapers, and just scant remains from a previous meal to prepare lunch for her daughters, aged two and five.
"I don't think we'll need much since it's more bone than meat," the woman remarks as she boils the bones to extract broth for the croquettes.
"For those who don't know me, I have two little girls, one two years old and the other five. You can already hear them. And right now, my youngest just peed on the floor because I have no diapers," she explains while continuing to cook.
The brief scene encapsulates numerous deprivations: food, basic hygiene, and childcare essentials. Other Cuban mothers have similarly documented these struggles online, highlighting the impossibility of affording a pack of diapers that can cost three times the average monthly salary.
At the video’s conclusion, her oldest daughter, Angie, is shown eagerly eating the croquettes. "Angie's crazy to eat because she even ate them raw," the mother says with a blend of pride and relief.
Comments reflect the emotional impact the video had on users from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Spain, and beyond.
A Cuban living abroad summed it up: "This is how we live in Cuba, and it's actually harder than what you show. Thank God you had water and electricity."
Another user noted: "Even before the extreme need in Cuba, we made those croquettes of pure flour with a hint of flavor. I often staved off hunger with them. This is the reality for most Cubans. She's lucky to have flour to make something to eat. This is the reality of Cuba."
Documenting Daily Struggles
The video by Gely la flaki is part of a growing trend of Cubans sharing their daily survival stories on social media. From mothers cooking at 3 a.m. to take advantage of sporadic electricity, to families making tamales with green bananas due to a lack of corn, these stories resonate widely.
According to the Food Monitor Program, the food crisis in Cuba in 2026 is viewed by 80% of the population as worse than the Special Period of the 1990s. The same organization reported that five provinces are at critical levels of food insecurity, with 96.91% of Cubans lacking adequate access to food. Additionally, 25% go to bed without dinner, and 29% of families have eliminated a daily meal.
The National Office of Statistics and Information reported a 74.42% increase in deaths due to malnutrition from 2022 to 2023, from 43 to 75 fatalities, in a nation that imports between 70% and 80% of its food following decades of agricultural decline under socialist rule.
"This is cooking with what's available. It's incredible what a mother can do," wrote one user in the comments, summarizing what millions felt after watching the video.
Understanding Cuba's Food Crisis
What are the main ingredients used by Gely la flaki in her video?
Gely la flaki used leftover chicken bones, small taro, cachucha peppers, flour, milk, and Goya seasoning to make croquettes for her daughters.
How significant is the current food crisis in Cuba compared to the past?
The food crisis in Cuba in 2026 is considered by 80% of the population to be worse than the Special Period of the 1990s, with severe shortages affecting millions.
What impact did the video have on viewers?
The video evoked strong emotional responses from people across Latin America and beyond, highlighting the hardships faced by many Cuban families.