A video has surfaced of an elderly woman from Havana searching for discarded sweet potatoes on the streets to feed herself and a bedridden companion. This footage was captured and shared on Facebook by activist and former political prisoner Silverio Portal, who accompanied her during the search and documented her harrowing story.
The woman explains that sweet potatoes—historically one of the cheapest staples in Cuba—are now priced at 130 pesos per pound in the informal market, a cost far beyond her means.
The most poignant part of her story comes when the grandmother recounts what happened before she went out to scavenge for food. "We had nothing to eat. Honestly, nothing," she reveals. Faced with this dire situation, she had to send her son to his father's aunt's house so he could have a meal.
A friend had deboned some chickens and sent her the leftovers. With these scraps, she made the only meal available: "I took those bones, put them to boil. I'm not ashamed to say it. I seasoned them a bit, added a handful of rice, and we ate a broth."
When Portal asks if she managed to eat anything that day, her response is stark: "Today, we have nothing. Nothing at all."
This situation is not unique. Back in April, images from Havana showed people collecting onions among the trash at a landfill, and in May, a man named Basilio Plasencia admitted he gathers items to sell and eats discarded food because of hunger. Earlier this month, the plight of two elderly people claiming to suffer from hunger once again stirred social media.
Statistics support what these videos depict. According to a survey by the Food Monitor Program and Cuido60 released in May, 33.9% of Cuban households had at least one member who went to bed hungry in the previous month. Among those over 60, 55.6% reported completely losing access to food. The minimum pension in Cuba is 4,000 pesos per month—equivalent to between seven and ten dollars—while the price of sweet potatoes, which was under 10 pesos in 2020, has soared to between 80 and 130 pesos this year. Official inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages was 42.66% year-over-year by the end of September, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information.
Silverio Portal, recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International after being imprisoned by the Cuban regime on charges of "disrespect," has been documenting these scenes in the capital for years. As he concludes the video, his message is clear: "There is immense hunger in Cuba."
Understanding Cuba's Food Crisis
What are the main causes of Cuba's food shortages?
Cuba's food shortages are primarily due to economic mismanagement, lack of resources, and the inefficiencies of the socialist government. The U.S. embargo also contributes to the scarcity of goods, but internal policies and systemic issues play a significant role.
How does inflation impact food prices in Cuba?
Inflation significantly raises the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages, making basic necessities unaffordable for many Cubans. The increased prices of staple foods like sweet potatoes exacerbate the strain on household budgets.
Who is Silverio Portal?
Silverio Portal is an activist and former political prisoner in Cuba, recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. He has been documenting the harsh realities of life in Cuba, particularly the widespread hunger, for years.