A Cuban mother from the neighborhood of Lawton in Havana, Sady R. Companioni, reported on Friday that regime officers deliberately blocked her access to state-supplied water while a policewoman threatened to detain her if she attempted to take photos of the situation.
Companioni shared her ordeal on Facebook shortly after returning from the hospital with her daughter, who was diagnosed with dengue. According to her account, a water truck was stationed in front of her house, and neighbors from surrounding blocks were invited to collect water—all except her.
A woman claiming to be a delegate and a police officer orchestrated the exclusion. The policewoman warned, "Everyone here can get water except her because I say so, and we'll see if that's not the case."
When Companioni tried to document the event, the threat escalated: "Let her take photos or videos, and we'll have her arrested."
In a video accompanying her post, Companioni recounted the intimidation: "She said she would lock me up, beat me, etcetera. And now I'm left without water and more threatened than before."
Ultimately, she was the only resident of her block denied water. "This is an insult, a disrespect, a violation of human rights. More repression, more pain," she stated in the video.
Companioni concluded her complaint with a warning: "If anything happens to me from now on, know that it's entirely their responsibility."
Repeated Struggles for Basic Necessities
This incident marks Companioni's second public complaint in a short span of time.
Previously, she had warned about enduring 15 days without water or electricity in her household, where five people live, ranging from six to 73 years old.
Her six-year-old daughter had a fever of 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit, and her eight-year-old niece suffered from severe dehydration, yet the family couldn't even apply a damp cloth to relieve them.
"They're killing us. We've been without water for 15 days. I don't even have a way to apply a compress to my daughter with a high fever," she said at the time.
In that instance, Companioni went to the Lawton Government command post to complain and faced threats of police action, being shuffled between offices, and ultimately referred to the local Communist Party, which failed to resolve the issue.
With no water available, the family resorted to collecting rainwater for the sick.
Lawton's Growing Discontent
Lawton has emerged as a hotspot of social unrest in Havana. On July 18, residents staged a pot-banging protest and burned trash on Dolores Street to oppose power outages.
On July 31, the State Security detained two mothers after a demonstration, one of them with her four-year-old son.
The water crisis in Lawton is rooted in structural issues: 87% of Havana's pumping system relies on electricity, meaning prolonged blackouts also cut off water supply.
In July 2026, over half a million Havanans reported water shortages, while nationwide, approximately 2.7 million Cubans faced irregular access to water.
According to Cubalex, June 2026 saw 319 documented acts of repression in Cuba, with nearly half of those affected being ordinary citizens demanding basic services, not political activists.
Understanding Cuba's Water Crisis
What are the structural causes of the water crisis in Havana?
The water crisis in Havana is primarily due to the reliance of 87% of the city's pumping system on electricity. Prolonged blackouts, therefore, interrupt the water supply.
How did residents of Lawton express their dissatisfaction with the water and power shortages?
Residents of Lawton expressed their frustration by staging a pot-banging protest and burning trash in the streets to object to the ongoing power outages.
What actions did Sady R. Companioni take to address her water issues?
Sady R. Companioni visited the Lawton Government command post to voice her complaints, faced threats of police involvement, and was shuffled between offices without any resolution.