Dozens of Cubans took to the streets of Centro Habana this Tuesday to demand immediate solutions to the shortage of drinking water that affects thousands of families in the capital.
The demonstration, which took place on the central Reina street during the night hours, was documented by social media users with videos and showing numerous residents blocking the road with buckets, tanks, and empty containers in protest over the days they have gone without service.
Witnesses reported that the situation has become unbearable and that the official response is insufficient. For its part, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) demanded respect for fundamental freedoms in an increasingly deepening social and economic crisis.
"The right to free expression and demonstration must be respected. Cubans are tired of the indifference towards the growing poverty affecting 89% of families," stated the OCDH on its X account. The organization reminded that the scarcity of water and other basic goods reflects the magnitude of the deprivations suffered by the population.
The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources itself acknowledged last week that “the water supply in the country is facing a critical situation.” Its president, Antonio Rodríguez, attributed the issues to the drought and failures in the pumping systems, worsened by power outages.
According to official figures, about 248,000 people in Cuba lack regular access to water, while in eastern provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Ciego de Ávila, approximately 860,000 citizens are facing severe restrictions.
In Havana, residents claim that the problem is not new: entire neighborhoods have gone months without running water in recent years. The inadequate infrastructure, combined with a lack of maintenance and investment, has deepened the crisis.
Independent experts estimate that between 8 billion and 10 billion dollars would be needed to restore the country's hydraulic network.
The water shortage adds to inflation, power cuts, and the lack of food, medicine, and fuel. Meanwhile, public outrage is growing. “The people are in the streets because they can’t take it anymore,” wrote a user on social media.
The protest in Reina ended with the arrival of water trucks, but the residents agree that the underlying problem persists and that the regime does not offer lasting solutions.
Protests for Water: A Story That Repeats Itself in Havana
The protests over the lack of water in Havana are part of a chronic issue that has persisted for years and continues to go unresolved.
In March 2025, the regime announced water cuts of up to 12 hours that impacted thousands of families in various municipalities of the capital. In June 2024, residents closed Reina Street in Centro Habana to demand immediate solutions after several days without supply.
During 2023, citizen complaints increased significantly: in November, women and children led protests demanding access to drinking water; in September, neighbors hung protest signs after going eight months without the service; and in July, residents of a building in Centro Habana reported that they had been without water for three months, having to carry buckets and containers from distant locations.
In October 2022, authorities responded with threats against the protesters who closed streets to demonstrate against the water shortage.
In January 2020, similar protests were recorded in Centro Habana due to the prolonged shortage of drinking water.
These precedents show that the protest this Tuesday in Centro Habana is not an isolated event, but rather part of a pattern of civic discontent regarding an essential service that the regime has failed to ensure consistently.
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