A young Cuban known on social media as Joelito el Cubanito posted a video on TikTok on Wednesday that shook thousands of compatriots both inside and outside the island: while preparing rice with chicken picadillo, he harshly denounces the crisis faced by the Cuban people in a testimony lasting just over a minute that many described as devastating.
"Life in Cuba has turned into a total disaster," says the young man as he starts the clip, before inviting his followers to join him in preparing what, according to him, is no longer just an ordinary lunch.
"I want you to join me in preparing today's meal. For many, it's just a regular lunch, but for us, it has become a daily necessity," explains Joelito, pointing out that there are people who can't even afford something as basic as that dish.
The young man does not just showcase his cooking; he precisely enumerates the deficiencies that characterize daily life on the island.
"The rice is expensive, the oil is nowhere to be found, and the people are talking. It's never available, and when it does appear, not everyone can afford it," he states in the video.
His account spans different generations: “There are desperate mothers who don’t know what to do to put a meal on the table for their children, elderly people who can’t even afford rice for the month, and young people like me who work every day and still can’t eat well.”
One of the most striking moments in the video is when Joelito describes the collective resignation that has taken hold in Cuban society.
"The saddest thing is that we have normalized everything: not having drinking water, not having electricity for eight or ten days," he laments.
And it concludes with a sentence that many considered the true core of the issue: "Many people think it's just about the internet, water, and electricity. But no, the real problem is not being able to feed oneself with dignity."
The testimony of Joelito is not an isolated perception, but rather a reflection of a documented and worsening crisis. According to the Food Monitor Program, 96.91% of the Cuban population lacks adequate access to food due to inflation and loss of purchasing power, according to data from May 2026.
The survey "In Cuba, There is Hunger 2025" revealed that 33.9% of households reported that at least one person went to bed hungry in the previous 30 days, compared to 24.6% recorded in 2024.
The economic figures explain why rice with picadillo has become a luxury: rice exceeds 400 Cuban pesos per pound in the informal market, while the average state salary hovers around 7,000 pesos per month, which means that a worker could barely purchase about 17 pounds of rice with their full salary, without covering any other expenses.
The basic basket is estimated to cost at least 50,000 Cuban pesos per month, which is more than seven times the average salary.
The food shortage is compounded by the energy collapse: Cuba has experienced at least seven total collapses of the electrical system in 18 months, with blackouts lasting up to 20 and 24 hours daily in various regions of the country, and a generation deficit that in June 2026 surpassed 1,975 MW.
The Cuban Minister of Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, admitted on June 6 during the program Mesa Redonda that so far this year, no oil, chicken, or yogurt have been distributed through the rationing booklet, and that only one of the six contracted wheat vessels for 2026 has arrived.
"Without energy, without fuel, it is not possible to produce food," acknowledged the official, in an admission that contrasts with decades of the regime's promises regarding the island's food sovereignty.
According to the same food monitoring agency, 80.4% of Cuban households had their cooking ability affected by power outages, and 48.3% lost food due to lack of refrigeration.
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