The activist Yamilka Laffita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, shared the poignant story of a 72-year-old woman who, driven by need and scarcity, knocked on her door in Havana asking for food.
"The government's debt to the elderly is unpayable," the activist concluded sadly after her conversation with Felicia, whose story she shared on Facebook.
Laffita confessed that her chest tightened when she was confronted by a woman who, despite feeling embarrassed, asked if she had a loaf of bread to spare: “I gave her a bread and the spaghetti I had bought.”
Felicia explained that, despite having participated in various revolutionary plans throughout her life, the current government has left her with a pension of 1,700 CUP, which is insufficient to meet her basic needs.
"Before she left, I offered her some cleaning supplies and a bit of money; she accepted them with embarrassment and great gratitude. I explained that she could come in the afternoons to eat whenever she needed, and that if I was not there, the two people who should know would be informed," Laffita noted.
"I saw her walk away with her silvery white hair and her little bag. Before leaving, she hugged me, and I almost broke down," noted the activist, who confessed to feeling saddened by a scene that currently reflects the reality faced by many elderly people in Cuba.
"The debt that this government owes to the elderly is impossible to repay, just like everything else they have done to this people," Laffita emphasized.
Finally, visibly affected by the woman's story, she shared a sad yet powerful message with her followers: “When you encounter vulnerable people, try to help them in any way you can. They also have rights; the government has already abandoned them, so don’t do the same.”
The elderly in Cuba represent one of the most vulnerable groups, neglected by the regime, and suffering from significant scarcity and hardship.
Recently, retiree Mirtha Fernández, a resident of El Vedado in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality of Havana, raised concerns on social media about the water supply crisis affecting her building and many families in the area.
These neighbors have been facing serious difficulties in accessing potable water for several months. They are mostly elderly individuals, many of whom are retired or bedridden, and are not receiving water service in their homes, which is severely affecting their daily lives.
However, on many occasions, elderly individuals manage to resolve some of their issues thanks to the solidarity of activists and the support of their families.
A grandmother in Cuba couldn't hold back her tears upon receiving a fan, a gift from her granddaughter who lives in Houston, and the latter shared the moment on social media.
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