A Cuban mother took to Facebook to share a heart-wrenching story that encapsulates the daily struggles of countless families on the island: her young daughter weeping from hunger while she struggled to light damp wood to cook, all without electricity for the entire day.
"With my girl crying because she's hungry. I've tried to light the wood to cook, but it's been wet since yesterday and won't catch fire," the mother wrote in her post, which gained significant traction across social media platforms.
This narrative vividly illustrates the exhausting cycle that Cubans endure: "We spend the whole day waiting for electricity. It comes on for a few minutes and then goes off again. These are very tough times that many Cuban families are living through every day."
The Worsening Electrical Crisis
Her testimony comes amidst the worst electrical crisis Cuba has faced in decades. This week, the Electric Union reported deficits reaching up to 2,040 MW during peak hours, with simultaneous outages affecting 68% of the national power system.
The inability to cook using electricity or gas has forced more than nine million Cubans to rely on charcoal, wood, and makeshift stoves, just like the situation this mother described.
Impact on Child Nutrition
In parts of Havana, power cuts extended to 20 and 22 hours daily throughout May, with some municipalities experiencing interruptions lasting up to 50 hours.
The effect on children's nutrition is catastrophic. According to the Food Monitor Program, in April 2026, 96.91% of the Cuban population lacked adequate access to food, and 33.9% of households had at least one member who went to bed hungry in the previous 30 days.
UNICEF reports that 9% of Cuban children under five suffer from severe nutritional deprivation, and 48.5% of students aged six to 11 do not receive meals or snacks at school.
Educational Disruptions and Health Concerns
The UN warned in May that over 11,000 children were awaiting postponed surgeries due to power cuts.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Education has moved the end of the school year to between June 15 and 30 because of the energy emergency.
Stories like this mother's—featuring crying children, wet wood, and endless waits for electricity—have frequently gone viral on social media since 2025, highlighting a reality that the Miguel Díaz-Canel regime has been unable to reverse.
Despite the hardship, the mother found solace in her faith: "Today I choose to lift my eyes to the heavens and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. Because when everything seems impossible, God still has the final say."
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis and Its Impact
What is causing the electricity crisis in Cuba?
The electricity crisis in Cuba is primarily due to outdated infrastructure and insufficient energy resources, leading to significant deficits and frequent power cuts.
How are families coping with the power outages?
Families are resorting to using charcoal, wood, and makeshift stoves for cooking due to the lack of electricity and gas, which has become a common practice across the island.
What is the impact of the power crisis on children's nutrition in Cuba?
The power crisis has severely impacted children's nutrition, with many lacking access to adequate food. UNICEF reports that a significant percentage of children suffer from severe nutritional deprivation.