A group of residents from Centro Habana set fire to a large pile of garbage at the intersection of Concordia and Lealtad streets, which required firefighters to intervene on Thursday night to extinguish the blaze, as shown on the Facebook page of the independent portal CubaNet.
The situation reflects the critical level that the health crisis in the city has reached, where the accumulation of waste even next to schools and hospitals not only generates pests and bad odors, but is now beginning to cause dangerous episodes for public safety.
The state's inability to ensure a basic service like garbage collection has created an unprecedented crisis in Havana.
Faced with this neglect, the residents themselves are compelled to take extreme measures that endanger their lives and those of those living nearby.
The burning of waste in Havana neighborhoods, far from being a desperate act, reflects the lack of real solutions and the official indifference towards a problem that increasingly deteriorates life in the Cuban capital.
In Santiago de Cuba, the provincial vice president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association of Cuba, Aris Arias Batallas, issued a serious warning on social media at the beginning of the month about the growing risk of fires in urban dump sites.
Weeks ago, the official journalist Ana Teresa Badía strongly stated that “Havana smells like garbage,” in a post on her Facebook account where she criticized the accumulation of tons of waste in streets and corners without timely collection.
In his brief reflection, Badía expressed that “there is a rampant institutional indolence. Let’s not blame only the blockade; there are things like empathy, work, and respect for citizens that do not depend on any blockade.”
In his opinion, “it cannot be normalized that we have to live with garbage”, while he emphasized that “Havana is an eternal dump waiting for someone to take pity on it. Too much indifference.”
The opinion contrasted with recent statements by the Deputy Director General for the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johana Tablada, who downplayed the filth in Havana by comparing it to other countries, while blaming media outlets and U.S. policies for the international criticism surrounding the issue.
“It is true that there is trash on the streets, but we are not the country with the most waste in the world,” said Tablada days ago in the video podcast Alma Plus, hosted by the government-aligned journalist Laura Prada.
The claim that the Cuban capital is not a city with "so much garbage" highlights the contrast between the official discourse, which seeks to downplay a daily problem, and the daily experience of citizens, who deal with micro-dumps and overflowing pits, as well as a waste collection system unable to respond to the hygienic-environmental crisis.
Communal authorities hold the Havana population accountable for the serious trash problem, claiming that citizens destroy, steal, or repurpose the containers intended for waste collection.
In the very heart of Centro Habana, one of the most impressive dumps went viral on social media as a testament to the decline of what was once the splendid capital of Cuba.
The uncontrolled accumulation of garbage in several corners of Vedado has raised alarms among the residents of this central Havana neighborhood, who reported the prevailing unsanitary conditions and warned about the dangers this situation poses with the imminent start of the hurricane season.
The accumulation of waste spreads throughout the city, raising concerns about an apparent public health crisis that is spiraling out of control, for which the government cannot find a solution.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Garbage Crisis in Havana
Why did the residents of Centro Habana decide to set a dumpster on fire?
The neighbors of Centro Habana set fire to the garbage dump as a desperate measure in response to the state's inaction regarding the accumulation of waste. The health situation in the city is critical, with piles of garbage generating pests and unpleasant odors, endangering public safety.
What is the position of the Cuban government regarding the accumulation of garbage in Havana?
The Cuban government, through some of its representatives, has downplayed the issue by comparing it to other countries, blaming U.S. policies and the media for international criticism. However, they have not provided effective solutions to address the garbage collection crisis.
What are the consequences of garbage accumulation in Havana?
The accumulation of garbage in Havana has led to a public health crisis, increasing the risk of diseases due to the proliferation of vectors such as rats, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. Moreover, fires in landfills pose an additional danger to nearby communities.
What measures have been taken to prevent fires in landfills in Cuba?
Fire authorities have issued warnings about the increasing risk of fires in urban dumpsites and have urged for preventive measures to be taken. However, the lack of effective actions from the government and insufficient waste collection have perpetuated the problem.
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