A resident from the Alberro neighborhood in Havana's El Cotorro municipality recently took to Facebook to express the frustration shared by countless Cubans: the community's Building 14 has been enduring weeks without running water and frequent power outages, despite promises from authorities that water trucks would arrive—promises that remain unfulfilled.
Mayrobys Martinez articulated the dire situation with a question that leaves no room for ambiguity: "Can anyone explain or at least tell me when we will stop living like animals?"
In her post, Martinez described how residents are forced to trek under the scorching sun, carrying jugs and bottles just to obtain enough water for basic needs like cooking and bathing. Washing clothes has become an unattainable luxury.
"Walking under the sun, lugging jugs and bottles as if this were Africa... just for essentials like cooking and bathing, because washing clothes is out of the question, and despite promises of water trucks, Building 14 hasn't seen water in ages. How long will we continue to endure this like sheep?" Martinez wrote.
In a follow-up video also shared on Facebook, she rejected the official slogan with a blunt statement: "Save the 'homeland or death' for someone else... I just want to live." The brief seven-second clip features Michael Jackson's song "They Don't Care About Us" playing in the background.
The plight of Alberro is not an isolated incident. The neighborhood is specifically mentioned among areas in El Cotorro that lose water supply when the Cotorro 1, 4, and 5 pumping stations fail due to electrical instability. Since March 2024, prolonged issues have been documented in the Buenos Aires community of the same neighborhood.
The root of the crisis is structural: over 500,000 Habaneros faced a water crisis by July 2026, according to experts from Aguas de La Habana, compared to 200,000 affected in April and 376,055 confirmed in May.
About 87% of the capital's water system relies on electricity for pumping, but the national power generation deficit stands at 2,100 MW against a demand of 3,200 MW. Nationally, around 2.7 million people struggle daily to access potable water.
El Cotorro has witnessed several public protests throughout 2026. On March 13, residents banged pots and pans under the slogan "We can't take it anymore," marking the seventh consecutive day of capital-wide protests against power outages.
In June, residents of Dulce Nombre took to the streets once more during a blackout that left them without electricity for an entire day.
For those who can afford it, the only viable alternative is the informal market: a private water truck costs between 18,000 and 26,000 Cuban pesos for a load of 8,000 to 10,000 liters, a price far beyond the reach of most families.
Meanwhile, the regime's responses are deemed inadequate by residents. Last Friday, Díaz-Canel touted "progress" with the creation of reservoirs and the use of water trucks during a visit to Marianao, while neighborhoods like Alberro remain without a real solution.
On July 2, Cuba's first battery bank, with a capacity of 50 MW, was inaugurated at the Cotorro 220 substation, yet power outages in the area persist unabated.
Understanding the Water and Power Crisis in El Cotorro
What are the main causes of the water crisis in El Cotorro?
The main causes are structural issues, including the dependency of the water system on electricity for pumping, combined with a national power generation deficit.
How are residents coping with the lack of water and electricity?
Residents are forced to walk long distances to collect water, and for those who can afford it, they rely on the informal market to purchase water from private trucks.
What actions have residents taken to protest these conditions?
Residents have participated in public protests, including banging pots and pans, to express their frustration and call for action against the ongoing power and water outages.