Eduardo Ragnar Lothbrok Muñoz Mora, a Cuban father, recently took to Facebook to share a poignant image of his two young children forced to sleep outside on their building’s porch. The children had to leave their home due to unbearable heat after enduring over a day without electricity.
In the photo, the children are shown lying face down in their underwear on purple sheets next to a barred window, capturing the stifling environment they faced.
“This picture might seem cute, but for me as a father, it's a symbol of helplessness, watching my kids sleep outside all night because of a 24-hour power outage,” he expressed in his post.
Criticism of Economic Reforms
Beyond just illustrating the scene, Eduardo criticized the recent economic reforms announced by the Communist Party of Cuba, calling them a mere distraction to buy time, time that has been wasted instead of being used to implement needed changes.
He concluded his message with a clear political call: “It's too late for this; now the change we want and need is complete, beginning with them leaving power. God, Homeland, Life, and Freedom.”
Ongoing Documentation of Daily Struggles
This is not the first instance of Eduardo sharing the decline of daily life in Cuba on social media. On June 17, he discussed the “dictatorship of numbers,” highlighting how families are grappling with the dollar priced at 685 pesos in the informal market, an electricity deficit nearing 2,000 MW leading to over 20-hour daily blackouts, a $29 gas canister while most salaries fall short of $10 per month, and retirees receiving only four dollars monthly.
He also mentioned that an ETECSA recharge costs 360 pesos and only lasts a week, and the liter of gasoline in the black market is nearly 5,000 Cuban pesos, whereas the formal market price is $1.90, with a limit of 20 liters every 180 days.
“This cruel dictatorial math knows nothing of emotions, values, or morals, and certainly not ideology,” he lamented on June 17.
Energy Crisis Deepens
On June 9, Eduardo sought help via Facebook to find rechargeable fans accepting payment by transfer, to purchase for his nephews, acknowledging the power outages seemed endless.
The dire situation described by this father underscores an unprecedented energy crisis in Cuba. The Union Eléctrica reported deficits of up to 2,045 MW during peak hours in June 2026, with only 1,035 MW available against a demand of 3,050 MW.
In certain areas of Matanzas, residents experienced more than 72 consecutive hours without power, while in Santiago de Cuba, outages were structured into nine blocks, limiting neighborhoods to just one or two hours of electricity daily.
Cuba's electrical grid has suffered at least seven total collapses in 18 months, including a nationwide blackout on March 16, 2026, and the largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras, disconnected for the fifth time in five weeks on June 5.
The newly announced minimum wage of 3,210 Cuban pesos per month, less than five dollars at the informal exchange rate, starkly contrasts with the prices Eduardo detailed in his posts.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What prompted Eduardo to share his children's photo on Facebook?
Eduardo shared the photo to highlight his frustration and helplessness as a father, forced to let his children sleep outside due to a prolonged power outage.
How has Eduardo criticized the Cuban government's economic measures?
Eduardo has criticized the government's economic reforms as superficial, mere attempts to buy time without implementing the necessary changes, and called for a complete overhaul of the political system.
What are the key issues contributing to Cuba's energy crisis?
Cuba's energy crisis is exacerbated by a significant electricity deficit, frequent power plant failures, and outdated infrastructure, resulting in widespread and prolonged outages.