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The supply crisis in Cuba has once again come to light following an informative note published in the official weekly Tribuna de La Habana regarding the "update" of the regulated family basket.
The report, dated February 15, 2026, acknowledges severe delays in the distribution of essential products, including those for the month of January.
According to official information, several municipalities in Havana are still pending deliveries of rice, sugar, peas, baby food, and even cigarettes for adults. While some areas are marked as "completed," others continue to wait.
The list reflects an uneven and fragmented distribution, with municipalities such as San Miguel del Padrón, Guanabacoa, Arroyo Naranjo, and Centro Habana among the most disadvantaged.
"Respect so that they are respected": popular discontent erupts
However, what drew the most attention was not the report itself, but the immediate reaction of the readers. In the comments, many residents of Havana harshly criticized the regime and denounced that reality does not match the official narrative.
A user directly questioned the lack of control in state markets: “In the state agricultural markets, the prices… do not match… there is a lack of control.”
Another grandmother expressed her outrage over the lack of food for the most vulnerable: “My grandson is 2 years and 5 months old… doesn’t he need to eat well? Where is the milk, the meats, the baby food?”
Frustration also stems from a lack of informational transparency. Gloria Gabriela Caso Vázquez reported that the government announces "completed" distributions that, in practice, have not been fulfilled: "They need to confirm so that they don't lose credibility... the sugar has not arrived in Playa."
Humanitarian claims: the sick and forgotten provinces
Among the criticisms, urgent calls also emerged for underserved sectors. One comment demanded food assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS: "They need to send food to those suffering from HIV/AIDS."
Others reported that the shortage is not only in Havana but also national, and they questioned the neglect of the provinces: “Aren’t the remaining provinces part of Cuba?… They haven’t delivered since last year.”
An increasingly symbolic basket
The publication confirms what millions of Cubans experience daily: the ration book, far from ensuring basic needs, has become a system of delayed promises, incomplete deliveries, and desperation.
Public outrage can no longer be hidden, not even in spaces controlled by the state media. The comments reflect a deep discontent that goes beyond basic needs: it is the exhaustion of a country that cannot feed its children or support its families.
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