A Cuban identified as Sisi Aguilera published a video on Facebook this Wednesday in which she desperately denounces the water crisis that adds to the already chronic blackouts in Cuba, describing a situation she qualifies as "genocide" and "miserable life."
“It's no longer just electricity; now it's also water,” the woman repeated in the clip of less than two minutes, which has garnered nearly 6,000 views and over 380 reactions.
"All of Cuba is currently living without water," Aguilera stated, detailing the prices the informal market charges to fill the void left by the state: "A truck of water is charging you 60,000 pesos. A well costs between 150,000 and 250,000 Cuban pesos, and here in this country, no one earns that much money even in a year."
The comparison is striking: the official average salary in Cuba is around 7,074 Cuban pesos per month, equivalent to about 13 dollars at the informal exchange rate, according to data from ONEI collected by Infobae in April 2026.
Aguilera also pointed to fear as an accomplice of silence: "Eighty percent of the population doesn't even express themselves on social media because they are afraid, afraid to tell the truth, afraid to show reality."
The woman concluded her message with a phrase that captures the mood of millions: "It's no longer just the electricity, it's not just the food going bad; now it's also that you don't have water to drink. Let's not even talk about hygiene because that's a luxury in this country."
The crisis described by Aguilera is backed by figures. According to official Cuban data released in May 2026, almost three million Cubans suffer from regular water shortages, while about 10 million—practically the entire population—receive it intermittently.
Only in Havana, more than half a million residents are suffering from the water crisis in July 2026, compared to the 200,000 affected recorded in April. The Guardian reported that up to 70% of the capital's water is lost due to leaks before it reaches households.
The root of the problem is structural: Cuban aqueducts rely almost entirely on electric pumping, so every blackout—which in 2026 could last between 12 and 20 hours daily—automatically collapses the supply. In May 2026, the system was operating with barely 37% of the necessary fuel, according to a report by Infobae.
Desperation has overwhelmed social media and the streets as well. The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 107 street protests in June 2026, a historical record.
On Monday, four young people were arrested in Sibanicú after protesting about the lack of water, and earlier in July, residents of Mantilla blocked traffic in protest for the same reason.
Related videos:
Filed under: