In a poignant reflection of Cuba's severe supply shortages, Esmeilda García Márquez, a Cuban grandmother, shared a video on Facebook this August. She recounted how she, along with two others, ventured out to find cooking oil but returned empty-handed.
"Good afternoon, folks," she began in the 30-second clip that garnered over 5,300 views and 271 reactions on the social media platform. "We just went out to buy a bit of oil with three people, and there's none," she stated.
Esmeilda didn't stop at just highlighting the scarcity. She pointed to the underlying issues, emphasizing that vendors fear hefty fines from authorities if they resell the product. "Of course, they're scared because they'll get fined, right? But they should be fining the port of Mariel; they can sort it out there, not here with us," she argued, suggesting that penalties should target the Mariel port—Cuba's primary import hub—instead of those trying to manage the crisis on the ground.
However, Esmeilda's concerns extended beyond cooking oil. In the same video, she revealed that a virus had claimed two lives in her community: "They say it's dengue, but who knows what it is if there are no reagents, nothing anywhere." This lack of diagnostic supplies underscores the parallel healthcare collapse in Cuba. The regime admitted in 2025 that only 30% of essential medicines were available, and by August 2026, the situation remained dire, with 461 out of 651 essential drugs missing nationwide, as reported in April.
The grandmother concluded her message with a stark enumeration: "No medicine, no food, no supplies, nothing; the stores are empty. So, what are they waiting for, huh?"
Such testimonies from elderly Cubans have surged in 2026, serving as a form of civic protest in the absence of formal complaint channels. In April, another Cuban grandmother warned that seniors and children were surviving on rice alone in a nation where the food crisis has been worsening for decades under the dictatorship.
Economic Hardships Intensify
These protests arise amidst an economic crisis that makes it increasingly difficult for citizens to secure basic goods. The state-regulated basket failed to distribute any oil in 2026, a fact admitted by the Minister of Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, during the Round Table discussion on June 6.
Soon after, the Ministry of Finance and Prices' Resolution 150/2026 removed the 990-peso-per-liter cap on imported oils, causing prices to skyrocket uncontrollably—from around 1,500 pesos in April to between 4,000 and 7,000 pesos across various provinces by August.
Faced with the inability to obtain oil, many Cubans turned to pork fat as an alternative, which also began to run scarce this month, leading to long queues starting at dawn.
Another Cuban woman walked the streets in search of oil, only to return with an empty bag, a scenario replayed daily across the country.
Understanding Cuba's Supply Crisis
Why is cooking oil so scarce in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a severe supply shortage due to economic mismanagement and strict government controls. The fear of fines prevents vendors from reselling products like cooking oil, exacerbating the scarcity.
What alternative are Cubans using for cooking oil?
Due to the lack of cooking oil, many Cubans have turned to pork fat as an alternative. However, this substitute has also started to become scarce, leading to long lines as people try to secure it.
How has the Cuban government responded to the oil shortage?
The Cuban government has admitted the failure to distribute oil through the regulated basket in 2026. Additionally, the removal of price caps on imported oils has led to a significant increase in prices, making it even more challenging for citizens to afford.