A Cuban resident in Cumanayagua, a municipality in the province of Cienfuegos, reported that in the local store, donated products from other countries are sold exclusively for children and the elderly, excluding the rest of the population.
In the images shared in a video on Facebook, cans and beans are seen that the woman identifies as part of international donations. "Here, they are selling donations meant for some people," states the whistleblower. "What we want you to know is that not all Cubans are benefiting from the aid being sent over here."
During the recording, one person attempts to stop her from filming with a justification that says it all: "I come from the party. That has to be authorized." The Cuban woman does not back down: "If you don't want to appear in the press, let me work, as I own my phone and I do what I want."
The woman also points out the irony that, while the population is excluded from donations, the government is holding a political event at a nearby shoe store dedicated to the embargo. "What blockade? If they have the blockade themselves, they don't even know how to govern, they don’t even know how to manage us," she says with indignation.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade officially acknowledges that donations are prioritized for children aged zero to 13, seniors over 65, pregnant women, and people in certified vulnerable situations. However, citizens from various provinces report that this distribution is opaque, insufficient, and in many cases, corrupt.
The episode takes place against the backdrop of a wave of international donations, primarily from Mexico, which has sent over 3,000 tons of food to Cuba in various shipments since February 2026.
The controversy erupted in March when TV Azteca documented that beans branded Bienestar, part of those donations, were found for sale in state stores for 2.97 dollars per half kilogram. The Cuban government denied the allegations, but public distrust has not diminished.
The complainant from Cumanayagua closed her video with a direct message to both Cubans and the donor countries: "Everyone will know about this, the Internet you are going to share, because here everyone has the same need. And we are all Cubans. Here, the sun rises for everyone."
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