In a powerful moment captured by CNN journalist Patrick Oppmann, a Cuban mother poignantly encapsulated the dire situation faced by the Cuban people during a protest in Havana: "Our kids are going hungry, they're not going to school, and we're desperate."
Oppmann shared the video on Friday, which was filmed the previous night amid demonstrations that rocked the Cuban capital from May 13 to May 15. These protests were fueled by persistent power outages and severe food shortages.
"We women are struggling; we've lost 20 pounds and our nerves are frayed because we can't provide for our children. The men are at home, jobless and at their wit's end. We're not living anymore; we're just surviving," the woman expressed with a voice full of emotion.
The Breaking Point: A Community in Crisis
The mother outlined a desperate scenario: "What little food we have in the fridge is gone by tomorrow. No food, no jobs, no money."
The protests erupted on May 13 when residents of San Miguel del Padrón demonstrated in front of the municipal government building, chanting "Power and food!" This was one of the clearest expressions of the growing public discontent.
The U.S. Embassy in Havana noted "numerous reports of protests throughout Havana" on that day and issued a security alert on May 14 due to the power outages and social unrest.
Widespread Hunger and Power Outages
This mother's words are far from isolated. According to the Food Monitor Program (FMP), a staggering 96.91% of the Cuban population lacked adequate access to food in April 2026. Alarmingly, nearly one in three households reported that at least one member had gone to bed hungry in the previous month.
An FMP report from April highlighted critical levels of food insecurity in five provinces: Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Guantánamo, and Santiago de Cuba.
Interestingly, 79.75% of those surveyed by the FMP blamed the shortages on poor state management rather than the U.S. embargo.
The food crisis is exacerbated by power outages lasting up to 24-25 hours a day, with an electricity shortfall of 1,885 MW, directly affecting food refrigeration, transport, and distribution.
About 80% of Cuban households reported that electricity cuts impacted their ability to prepare meals, while 48.3% lost food due to lack of refrigeration.
International Attention and Future Outlook
The World Food Program has identified Cuba as a nation with significant food availability issues in its planning for 2026-2030, documenting sharp declines in imports: powdered milk by 71%, corn by 75%, and wheat by 58%.
The youth-led protests in Havana are part of a broader wave of demonstrations, with Cubalex recording 229 protests in March 2026 alone—the highest monthly number on record.
Malnutrition-related deaths in Cuba surged by 74% between 2022 and 2023, rising from 43 to 75 cases, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information. This troubling trend could worsen with the ongoing deterioration in 2026.
Understanding Cuba's Current Crisis
What sparked the recent protests in Havana?
The protests were ignited by prolonged power outages and severe food shortages, which have become unbearable for many residents.
How has the food crisis impacted Cuban households?
Nearly all Cuban households report inadequate access to food, with many losing food due to lack of refrigeration and experiencing difficulties in meal preparation due to power cuts.
What role does the government play in the current shortages?
A significant portion of the population attributes the shortages to inefficient state management rather than external factors like the U.S. embargo.
What are the international perspectives on Cuba's food crisis?
The World Food Program has flagged Cuba as a nation with major food availability challenges, highlighting drastic reductions in key food imports.