A young Cuban identified on Instagram as @laurenlotti_ posted a reel documenting 80 consecutive hours without electricity in her home, with the water tank nearly empty and relying on two solar panels to be able to sleep with a fan. The video, recorded in response to a comment questioning the complaints of Cubans, turned into a raw testimony of the crisis facing the island.
"Look at how Cubans complain and like to play the victim," commented a user on one of her posts, and the young woman chose to respond by showing what her daily life is like.
"The electrical system in Cuba has collapsed again. It has been 80 hours without electricity, and the water situation is getting harder every day. I don't know what we're going to use to wash ourselves today," says the young woman in front of the camera before inviting her followers, "Come to Cuba. Live one day here. Then tell me about it."
Amidst the hardship, the young woman's grandmother prepared tacos following a recipe left by followers in the comments. "It's the first time we've tried them and they turned out delicious," celebrated @laurenlotti_, in a moment of humanity that contrasts with the weight of the situation.
The family also went out to provide assistance to two neighbors in the neighborhood, with the support of a friend named Cristina. Upon returning, the priority was to carefully manage the available energy: "Now we have to save as much energy from our two solar panels as possible so we can sleep with the fan on."
The video is set against the backdrop of another total blackout that Cuba experienced on July 6, leaving millions of people without electricity. The water crisis is a direct consequence of the electrical crisis: over 80% of Cuban aqueducts rely on electricity to pump water, so each blackout automatically cuts off the supply.
The solar panels mentioned by @laurenlotti_ represent a privilege that few Cubans can access: a system can cost over $1,000 on the informal market, equivalent to more than two years' worth of the average salary on the island. Most of the population survives on candles, stored water, and cooking with charcoal or firewood.
The reel closed with a statement that resonated among its followers: "I dream of the day when Cubans can have a dignified life. I also dream of seeing a free and happy Cuba."
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