Cuban veterinarian's disappearance in Havana reported: "Every minute counts"

Activists, colleagues, and close friends of the veterinarian Yasiel Adrián Quiñones Alfonso, 30 years old, have reported his disappearance since July 12. According to posts shared on social media, the young man was last seen in the municipality of Bejucal, in the province of Mayabeque, and concerns for his physical safety are growing.

Quiñones, a resident of Centro Habana, worked at the Vetpro Veterinary Clinic and also provided services in the Carlos III area. According to testimonies from close acquaintances, he was going through a delicate emotional state; he had left farewell letters and handed over his mobile phone to avoid being tracked down.

“He is going through a severe depressive state,” warned activist Lara Crofs on Facebook, where she reported that he was last seen “in the vicinity of the Carlos III clinic.” "He gave his cell phone to his sister to avoid being found," she added in her post.

The organization BAC-Habana, dedicated to animal protection, published: “The situation is extremely serious. It is in an alarming state of depression and its exact whereabouts are unknown.” In the same message, they requested community support: “It has saved countless animal lives and today it needs us to save its own.”

The call has also been shared from other spaces. Luciano Sariol Rodríguez, who identified him as a member of the United Hearts Lodge, noted that Quiñones disappeared "after a nervous breakdown."

Images and calls to share information are circulating on social media, and several contact numbers have been disseminated in case anyone has information that could help locate him.

The case of Quiñones adds to a series of recent disappearances in Cuba, where the role of social media and independent media has been crucial in the absence of visible responses from the authorities.

One of the most recent cases is that of Yusmar Duanis Vega, a 29-year-old originally from Santiago de Cuba, who has not been heard from since July 3rd. According to a post by Yordy Battle, Duanis last communicated with his mother from Marianao in Havana. Since then, his phone has been turned off and he has not been located.

The case of Doraiky Águila Vázquez, who has been missing since March, remains unresolved. Her mother, Maura Vázquez, has repeatedly sought help. In one of her recent posts, she wrote: “I implore God and the entire community on my knees.” The woman has stated that her daughter requires urgent medical attention and has publicly denounced the inaction of the institutions.

Another tragic outcome was that of Yasiel Amador López, a young resident of Guanajay with schizophrenia, whose body was found weeks after his disappearance. Despite requests for assistance on social media and sharing his contact details, his sister reported that no one came to his aid. “He asked for help in several places, and no one called. The police also did nothing to help,” she stated.

These cases have reignited public concern over the lack of effective search protocols in Cuba, where often it is the close community members who take on the responsibility of locating missing persons, amid a growing atmosphere of vulnerability and distress.

Frequently Asked Questions about Disappearances in Cuba