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The family of Eutiquio Pérez Chain, a 79-year-old man residing in San Francisco de Paula, San Miguel del Padrón municipality, Havana, is desperate following his disappearance since last Sunday.
The man, who suffers from memory problems, was last seen in the Mantilla area, Arroyo Naranjo municipality, and there have been no updates on his whereabouts to date.
According to the alert shared on Facebook by the user La Tijera, Pérez Chain was wearing light pants and a black sweater when he left his house.
As a distinctive feature, it is noted that her voice sounds as if she has a hoarse tone.
His family has urged the public that if anyone has any information, they should immediately contact Yumi at (5 608 94 60) or Leandro at (5 320 89 90), as "any detail could be vital" for locating him.
Social media as the only tool
The case has once again highlighted the lack of effective official mechanisms for searching for missing persons in Cuba.
In the absence of clear protocols, families rely almost entirely on community solidarity and social media to try to find the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Instead of having a state system for immediate alerts or rapid tracking, relatives must turn to Facebook, WhatsApp, and community pages to mobilize support, an effort that creates more uncertainty than concrete answers for them.
Insecurity and institutional void
The disappearance of Pérez Chain occurs against a backdrop of rising insecurity and increasing crime in Havana, where reports of thefts, assaults, and missing persons are becoming more frequent.
However, the sluggishness of the official intervention and the lack of coordination among state institutions place a burden on families that should fall on the competent authorities.
Activists and citizens have pointed out that, in a situation where every hour is crucial, the lack of transparent and effective protocols by the government puts the missing persons at greater risk, especially the elderly and vulnerable individuals.
An urgent call
The case of Eutiquio Pérez Chain is not isolated: it reflects a growing issue in Cuba, where the lack of clear public policies regarding prevention and response to disappearances undermines citizens' trust in the state's ability to ensure security.
Meanwhile, this elderly man's family lives in dread, clinging to the hope that community solidarity will help find him and bring him back home safe and sound.
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