Daily life in Cuba has turned into a constant struggle to obtain the essentials: food, water, and electricity. Blackouts lasting over 12 hours, paralyzed transportation, and skyrocketing prices have become part of the everyday reality on an island plunged into a deep crisis.
According to an extensive report by Reuters, Cubans from various sectors —from street vendors to state workers and taxi drivers— describe an increasingly precarious reality.
The testimonies gathered around Havana reveal a country in survival mode, with no relief in sight.
“The situation in Cuba is unbearable,” said Yaite Verdecia, a housewife from Havana, who asserted that “no salary is sufficient.”
The agency indicates that the lack of fuel has halted public services, driven up transportation costs, and worsened the power outages that already last for most of the day.
The energy collapse has even reached Havana, which until recently was better at withstanding power outages than rural areas.
With the cessation of oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, and the sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump on countries that supply crude to the regime, the capital is also sinking into darkness.
Long lines to buy bread, gasoline, or basic food items have become a regular occurrence.
"You have to pay the price or stay at home," said Daylan Pérez, a young worker from Old Havana.
Many transporters have stopped operating due to a lack of fuel, while those that are still in service charge in dollars, a currency that is inaccessible for most people.
"Previously, you could buy gasoline with pesos once a month, but now you can’t," explained a resident to the British agency.
Power outages also affect those who attempted to adapt with electric vehicles.
“I thought I had found the solution, but now I can only charge my taxi four hours a day,” said Alexander Leyet, a Havana driver quoted by Reuters.
The deterioration of living conditions has led Cubans to focus solely on survival.
We are drowning. But there is nothing we can do, confessed Aimee Milanes, a young woman from Reparto Eléctrico.
In neighborhoods such as Guanabacoa or Marianao, blackouts have caused traffic accidents due to the lack of traffic lights and have increased insecurity.
"Sometimes the outages last more than 12 hours," lamented Raysa Lemu, a resident of one of the most affected areas.
While the Cuban government declares an "international emergency" and blames Washington for the crisis, the population continues to lack answers.
Amidst darkness, hunger, and despair, more and more Cubans repeat the same phrase every day: "We just want to survive."
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