“I have wanted to have a glass of milk for years... and I can't.” With that phrase, a Cuban woman encapsulates what millions remain silent about. It is not a metaphor; it is daily life.
The Spanish YouTubers from the channel Black Mango recently traveled through the deeper neighborhoods of Havana, far from the luxury hotels of Varadero or the tourist areas of Vedado. What they found was a more common Cuba: hunger, misery, lack of medicine, repression, and a human dignity that survives among the rubble.
During their visit to the neighborhood of San Isidro, the creators of the channel showcased homes where six people live on just two pounds of rice per month per person. “This is not going to change. We have been surviving for 37 years… but instead of moving forward, we're going backwards,” confessed a mother who resells lollipops and cigarettes in small quantities to feed her children.
In one of the most difficult moments of the video, an elderly woman reveals her refrigerator: it only contains scraps of chicken and jars of water. “I don't have duralgina for the fever, nor a pill for the pain. I’m filled with operations. This is chaotic,” she says with a choked voice. She receives 1,500 pesos from her pension each month, which is less than the cost of a kilogram of milk.
Precarity is not limited to food. The images reveal homes without running water, where residents must carry buckets to bathe; houses without electricity where cooking is done in the dark; and cramped spaces where two adults sleep head to foot in a single bed.
“If you feel the urge to urinate at night, you have to descend some dangerous stairs without light,” recounted one of the neighbors. And while all this is happening, the ration booklet barely guarantees rice and raw sugar.
Another of the most chilling testimonies is that of a young woman who was imprisoned for participating in the 11J. "There is no freedom of expression here. If you speak, you have to swallow what you think," explain the hosts of the channel.
The Spaniards also reported on the crisis in the healthcare system, where doctors must purchase medications out of their own pockets to treat patients. Medicine, they say, is reserved for those who hold power or have access to foreign currency.
The emotional climax comes with a desperate man, crying on camera: “I’m eating from the dumpsters, I sleep in doorways, I sell little items to eat, help us!”. Another man, visibly affected, added: “What I had to lose, I’ve already lost. My mom is dead.”
The impact of Black Mango's visit did not go unnoticed, as they were even questioned by the Cuban State Security. Officers arrived at the apartment where they were staying and examined their phones, social media posts, and passports.
“We were being watched. This had never happened to us before, and we have traveled to many countries”, they recounted. Although they were not detained, they reported feeling fear until the very last minute before boarding their flight back to Madrid.
In their podcast, they claimed that a 40-second story about the misery in a neighborhood near the Capitol was enough to “set off all the alarms of the regime.” They wondered, “If they do this to us as foreigners, what won’t they do to the average Cuban?”
Frequently asked questions about the situation of extreme poverty in Cuba
What is the current situation of poverty in Havana?
The situation in Havana is one of extreme poverty, characterized by a lack of food, medicine, and decent living conditions. Residents' testimonies recount hunger, crumbling housing, and a lack of essential services such as water and electricity.
What dangers do YouTubers face when documenting Cuban reality?
YouTubers, such as those from the Black Mango channel, face monitoring and harassment from the Cuban State Security. They were interrogated and their equipment checked by authorities due to the publication of content that reveals the harsh reality of the country.
How does the lack of food affect Cubans?
The food shortage in Cuba is critical. Many Cubans survive on minimal rations of rice per month and consider powdered milk a luxury. Their diet revolves around obtaining the little that is available, with high prices and low quality.
What challenges does the healthcare system in Cuba face?
The health system in Cuba is facing a serious crisis due to the lack of medications and basic resources. Doctors must purchase medicines out of their own pockets, and many essential products are reserved for those with access to foreign currency.
How is political repression experienced in Cuba?
Political repression in Cuba is intense, limiting freedom of expression and activating censorship. People who criticize the government face severe consequences, and control over foreign content is very strict to prevent the true reality of the country from being shown.
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