The human rights group Cubalex has reported a disturbing figure of 19 deaths occurring under state custody in Cuba, attributed to medical negligence or lack of care, in the first part of 2026. This alarming data was unveiled in a report released on Monday.
Of these deaths, 17 were inmates held in eight different prisons across the island, while the remaining two occurred at a police station in Havana and the Psychiatric Hospital in Cienfuegos.
The Provincial Prison of Las Tunas, also known as El Típico, recorded the highest number of cases with four deaths. This is followed by the Combinado del Este and Boniato prisons, with three each, and the Provincial Prison of Guantánamo reporting two.
One of the most severe cases at El Típico involved Yoandry Cutiño Oliva, aged 34, who died in August severely malnourished, weighing only 32 kilograms despite being 1.78 meters tall. Prison officials attributed his death to cancer, but Cubalex argues that his physical decline was directly due to the deplorable conditions of his imprisonment.
Additionally, within the same facility, José Rivero Consuegra, a 63-year-old from Manatí, died two days after suffering a heart attack, and another unidentified inmate succumbed to malnutrition.
Conditions at El Típico are reportedly dire, with complaints submitted to Cubalex indicating that the main meal for inmates is a worm-infested flour paste with a pungent odor. When prisoners protest the food scarcity, authorities allegedly tell them to "drink plenty of water."
Outside prison confines, Cubalex documented the death of Ferrer Ortiz Alayón, a 37-year-old resident of Los Palos, Mayabeque, who was detained by police in Havana on August 16 following a traffic incident, despite suffering visible head injuries.
Instead of being taken to a hospital, Ferrer was held at the Zanja police station for more than 17 hours without receiving critical medical attention. He suffered from brain swelling, contusions, and three blood clots in his head, leading to his death.
In May, Arelis Pérez, nearly 60 years old, was allegedly beaten to death inside the Psychiatric Hospital of Cienfuegos, purportedly by another patient.
The report also details the case of Roberto Álvarez Ávila, who was part of a boat from Florida attacked by Cuban Coast Guard forces near Cayo Falcones, Villa Clara, in February 2026. He passed away in March while in hospital under state custody. "We were informed of Roberto's death, but we still don't know exactly what happened," said his family.
A separate report from Prisoners Defenders in April 2026 estimated that the daily diet in Cuban prisons provides between 250 and 353 kilocalories, only about 10-14% of the minimum required for adults, affecting approximately 90,000 inmates.
Cubalex has issued a warning that "the dire food conditions and lack of medical care threaten the lives and health of the prison population and demand an immediate response from authorities." They have called for independent and impartial investigations into each of the documented deaths.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuban Prisons
What is the primary cause of the deaths in Cuban state custody?
The primary cause of deaths in Cuban state custody has been linked to medical neglect and inadequate healthcare for inmates, according to the Cubalex report.
How are the conditions in Cuban prisons described?
Conditions in Cuban prisons are reported as dire, with severe food shortages and inadequate medical care, which threaten the well-being of prisoners.
What actions has Cubalex demanded regarding the deaths?
Cubalex has called for independent and impartial investigations into each death documented to hold those responsible accountable and prevent further fatalities.