In the La Marina neighborhood of Matanzas, the water crisis has become an unbearable burden for the families living within six blocks, where the service is practically non-existent.
Weeks and even months without regular access to water have left residents relying on empty tanks and dilapidated pipes, a situation worsened by breaks and leaks in elevated areas that prevent water from reaching homes, according to the state-run newspaper Girón.
Amid this desolate landscape, a local hero emerges, affectionately known to the neighbors as Espartaco. His mission, though he does not wield swords or lead armies, is equally intense and vital for his community.
With an improvised cart and an indomitable will, Spartacus travels the roads to the nearest springs, returning with the vital liquid that the pipes do not provide and that the regime fails to guarantee, becoming for the residents of La Marina not just a carrier of water, but also a bearer of hope.
Despite his tremendous effort, Espartaco's work is not enough to address a problem that requires urgent attention and structural solutions from the authorities.
The lack of maintenance in the distribution networks, combined with the absence of investments to ensure access to drinking water, has left residents in a state of extreme precariousness.
The responsible institutions must take on their role and provide alternatives that restore this community with basic and essential services.
Meanwhile, in La Marina, Espartaco has become a symbol of resilience and solidarity.
But her figure also highlights an unacceptable reality: the survival of these six blocks cannot rely solely on an anonymous hero.
"The well-being of these six blocks cannot rely solely on an anonymous hero; rather, it requires a system that ensures access to water as what it truly is: a vital matter," Girón noted.
Water supply issues are not confined to a single province in Cuba. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that the water scarcity affecting the population in Havana has worsened following Hurricane Rafael's passage through the city.
During a tour to assess the damage caused by the phenomenon, it was reported that some water supply sources suffered breakages and are slowly being repaired.
Recently, residents of Luyanó, in the Havana municipality of Diez de Octubre, expressed their dissatisfaction and concern over the water shortage they have been experiencing for weeks.
Those affected, particularly women, are demanding a solution to this issue, which adds to the prolonged and persistent blackouts and other social difficulties that impact the daily lives of Cubans.
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