A Cuban resident in Holguín, identified as Yeni Mone, posted a video on social media in which, visibly affected, she made an urgent plea for solidarity in the face of the dramatic rise in food prices on the Island.
"I am still crying from this morning. Because the situation we are going through hurts me," she expressed at the beginning of her message.
Her anguish was not personal, as she later clarified, but rather for those who cannot afford basic products amid an economic crisis that has deepened and is hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.
In his testimony, he reported that a liter of oil is sold for between 1,800 and 1,900 pesos, and warned that it could soon reach 2,000 pesos. "It hurts me because there are people who can't afford to buy it..." he expressed.
Yeni questioned those who buy products in bulk to resell them at higher prices, leaving others without access to the essentials.
The economic crisis in Cuba is reflected in inflation that has eroded the purchasing power of the population, with prices continuously rising and wages falling short. While it is possible to find staples like oil, rice, sugar, or coffee in the private sector, prices are prohibitive for a large part of the citizenry.
In that context, Yeni's appeal was not political, but humanitarian.
"Please, don't do that. Because today, as you are doing it, tomorrow it will be done to you," he requested, addressing those who buy in large quantities to resell.
In his message, he appealed directly to the owners of private businesses and sales outlets.
"Try to find a way to sell it, even if it's one per person or two or three per person. Don't sell it in bulk, because there are people who need it (...) Don't sell things by the box. Please, sell them in regulated amounts. One liter, two liters, so that everyone can buy," she pleaded.
The woman described scenes of deprivation in neighborhoods like Canalito, where some have nothing and go to bed without eating or survive on very basic food.
Far from portraying herself as a victim, Yeni clarified that her personal situation is not serious, but she insisted that she cannot "turn a blind eye and ignore what is happening."
In a second video, she thanked those who called her out of concern and reiterated that her message focuses on empathy.
"I'm not talking about politics; I'm talking about humanity," he emphasized.
He invited those who have resources to share with others: "If you have the ability to provide a little refreshment, whatever it may be, especially food, do it. Don't be shy… Help people."
His proposal was clear: to cook and give away lunches, breakfasts, or snacks to those in need. "Post it in the groups: 'I, so-and-so, today I have 50 lunches, come by here with your container'..."
He also urged that acts of solidarity be done without seeking public recognition: "Don't do things for people to see you. Do things as if it were for God."
In the midst of an economy marked by chronic scarcity, a constant rise in prices, and difficulty accessing basic products, the broken voice of Yeni Mone became a call to collective awareness. "We are living through difficult days. We need to help each other," she stated.
His message concluded with a reflection on the fleeting nature of material possessions and the importance of mutual support: "When you die, you won't take any of that with you… Whatever you can do today for someone related to the issue of food, if you can, do it."
Beyond the numbers, their testimony reveals the human impact of the crisis: the anguish of those who watch as food becomes unattainable for a growing segment of the population and the urgent need to strengthen solidarity ties in times of need.
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