An 88-year-old woman who had been reported missing in the Camilo Cienfuegos neighborhood of Havana was found with signs of violence after being assaulted while wandering disoriented in the public streets.
Eduarda, diagnosed with Alzheimer's, had left her home unnoticed by her family on the night of Saturday, August 2. Her disappearance led to a swift mobilization within the community and on , where users shared the report along with her personal details and a description of the clothing she was wearing: a worn-out orange robe.
The woman was found hours later by a neighbor, who alerted the family. According to accounts shared by relatives on Facebook, Eduarda was walking towards Bejucal when she was intercepted in the same neighborhood by an individual who snatched her purse. Fortunately, she was not carrying any valuable items, but she was thrown to the ground and sustained several bruises.
“She was thrown to the floor and has several bruises. But she is already home. Extremely grateful,” wrote a user identified as Meli Rodríguez, confirming to activist Yamilka Lafita (Lara Crofs on social media) that the woman had been located.
Eduarda's relatives, her daughter and son-in-law, publicly expressed their gratitude for the support received and the solidarity from those who contributed to the search.
The case brings the focus back to the vulnerability of older adults in Cuba, especially those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, who are exposed to criminal acts that, according to citizen reports, have become more frequent in recent months.
Increase in assaults against the elderly in Cuba
Eduarda's case is not an isolated incident. In recent months, numerous violent attacks against elderly individuals have been reported in various provinces of the country, highlighting an increasing pattern of insecurity that particularly affects this vulnerable group.
In September 2024, in Havana, an elderly man was pushed to the ground by a young thief who stole his mobile phone.
In Holguín, two men were arrested for brutally attacking an elderly man with a brick to steal his electric motorcycle in February of this year, while around the same time in Camagüey, an elderly woman was kicked during a blackout and robbed of her money and belongings.
These attacks are part of a growing wave of violence that, according to citizen reports and social media accounts, has intensified amid the economic crisis the country is experiencing. The victims, mostly elderly individuals, suffer violent robberies, often without an effective response from the authorities.
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