Residents of the rural area of Baconao, in Santiago de Cuba, reported a situation of complete isolation that combines more than two months without a stable water supply, prolonged blackouts, and the cancellation of the only bus service connecting the community with the rest of the city.
The complaints were gathered by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada and also shared on social media by the resident Yulaidy Ge Martines, who described the situation as unsustainable.
"We make a desperate and urgent call to the authorities and to anyone who can hear from Baconao. In this town, we have been left completely isolated: we are without transportation, without food, and without electricity. We have absolutely nothing," wrote Ge Martines on Facebook.
According to the testimonies received, residents have been without stable water supply for over two months, forced to carry it from distant locations to meet their most basic needs.
"We have to carry water from faraway places. The supply only runs for an hour, and they don't bring anything to the warehouses," reported a resident who requested to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
The situation has worsened in recent days following the withdrawal of the only bus that served the community, which occurred about a week ago without any public explanations from the authorities.
"We are without transportation. There are children, the elderly, and sick people living here. No one is telling us anything, and we are already tired," said another resident.
The lack of transportation prevents residents from traveling to find food, attending medical appointments, completing procedures, or reaching their workplaces.
The supply in the warehouses is almost non-existent, and when any distribution does arrive, it is prioritized solely for children aged zero to four and seniors over 65.
Baconao is located about 20 km from the city of Santiago de Cuba, within a protected area of approximately 84,900 hectares, making it particularly vulnerable to the suppression of public transport.
The crisis in Baconao is part of a structural emergency affecting the entire province.
The Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba admitted that it cannot guarantee even two hours of daily electrical service, while the national electricity deficit exceeded 2,000 MW in June, with power outages lasting up to 40 and 50 consecutive hours in some neighborhoods of Santiago.
This accumulated deterioration has led to a cycle of protests in the province throughout June. Residents of San Ricardo took to the streets on Monday for several consecutive days without electricity, and on June 11, residents of the José Martí District protested demanding power, food, and political changes.
In January, the Food Monitor Program had already reported that residents of Santiago were using contaminated water due to state inaction, and by May, five Cuban provinces, including Santiago de Cuba, were facing critical levels of food insecurity.
"By taking away our transportation, they have left us with our hands tied. We have no way to get around or to go out and find daily sustenance for our families. The people in the village are hungry, the situation is already unsustainable, and we need a solution NOW!" concluded Yulaidy Ge Martines in her post.
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