Related videos:
The life of Zulien Martínez, a single mother of three children in Santiago de Cuba, became exposed following a report by activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo, who found her living without a roof and in extreme vulnerability.
Sosa shared the case on Facebook, describing the home with "wounded walls and a roof that no longer exists," and lamenting that the woman has been overlooked by institutions and officials who never responded to her plea.
The activist claims that he arrived at the site "seeking answers," but only found neglect.
According to the account, Zulien broke down during the interview, crying "with the sacred anger of someone who carries their family on their shoulders while the world looks the other way."
Her children, she pointed out, sleep under precarious conditions, exposed to the elements due to the lack of a roof and a safe home.
Sosa brought some basic items - backpacks, school supplies, clothes, shoes, two packages of milk, and some money - thanks to the collaboration of other good Samaritans.
However, he admitted that this gesture "barely brushes the wound" and does not resolve the family's dramatic situation.
"Three children without basic conditions. A mother alone fighting against oblivion," she wrote, describing the case as "one of the many shames that we should not endure."
Zulien's story is an example of the vulnerability faced by many Cuban families affected by floods and landslides, a situation worsened in a country where poverty hinders the recovery of what has been lost.
When water destroys homes, not only do walls and roofs disappear, but any possibility of replacing mattresses, clothing, food, or building materials is also lost—assets that most cannot afford with their salaries.
Meanwhile, the authorities continue to issue statements about "support for the victims," without the aid reaching those in need, either promptly or adequately.
In the face of official indifference, the population has had to take on the social rescue that the State does not guarantee.
Yasser called to "break down doors," to share the complaint and seek real support, not just virtual compassion. "This can't just end with a 'like.' It has to reach those who have real power to make decisions. It has to make those who can act but don’t feel uncomfortable," he insisted.
He even shared the exact address to facilitate donations: U-377-2, Micro 9, José Martí District, Santiago de Cuba.
Today, Zulien is not asking for easy money or fleeting charity. According to Sosa, she demands "minimum justice for her children." A roof to protect them, basic living conditions, and the care that should have never been lacking.
Once again, it is ordinary citizens who mobilize while the State, with the resources and power to act, remains on the sidelines, leaving the survival of the most vulnerable to the goodwill of those who do not know them but do listen to them.
Filed under: