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A garbage dump grows uncontrollably just a few meters from the entrance of the primary school Hermanos Marañón, located on 2nd Street of Vista Hermosa, between C and D, in Santiago de Cuba, exposing students to serious health risks while authorities remain silent.
The complaint was published on Monday by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who documented with images the accumulation of broken bags, food scraps, debris, and organic waste that nearly reaches the area where children pass by daily.
"What should be a space for education, care, and future is now surrounded by garbage," he said.
Such reports are common in Cuba, and the government does not take action. However, since 2024, there have been increasing reports of dumps next to primary schools, highlighting a recurring problem without a solution.
The hygiene crisis also affects the physical environment of educational institutions. Recently, the deplorable condition of the access road to the semi-boarding school was reported, highlighting yet another instance of the neglect faced by schools in the province.
The desperation of the neighbors in the face of authorities' inaction has led to extreme measures. Last November, residents of the Mariana de la Torre neighborhood blocked a street in protest against the accumulation of waste that was not being collected.
The consequences of these makeshift dumps can be devastating. The accumulation of waste caused a fire in the Chicharrones neighborhood, and more recently another dump caught fire in the Rajayoga neighborhood, putting entire families at risk.
The Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment himself acknowledged that the garbage crisis is spread across all of Cuba, an admission that contrasts with the lack of concrete solutions on the ground.
Meanwhile, the children of the Hermanos Marañón school continue to arrive for classes every day amidst decay and foul odors.
The unsanitary conditions of the environment are compounded by concerns over the quality of the lunch served to students in Santiago de Cuba, creating a picture of neglect that impacts the health and well-being of Cuban children.
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