A Cuban identified as Sisi Aguilera published a video on Facebook this Wednesday, in which she desperately denounces the water crisis that is adding to the already chronic blackouts in Cuba, describing a situation she refers to as "genocide" and "miserable life."
"Not only is it electricity anymore, now it's also water," the woman repeated in the clip of less than two minutes, which has accumulated nearly 6,000 views and over 380 reactions.
"All of Cuba is currently living without water," Aguilera stated, detailing the prices charged by the informal market to fill the gap left by the State: "A truckload of water is costing you 60,000 pesos. A well is costing between 150,000 and 250,000 Cuban pesos, and here in this country, nobody earns that kind of 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 unofficial exchange rate, according to data from the ONEI gathered by Infobae in April 2026.
Aguilera also pointed to fear as an accomplice of silence: "80% of the population doesn't even do it through social media because they are afraid, they are afraid to speak the truth, they are afraid to show reality."
The woman concluded her message with a phrase that summarizes the mood of millions: "It's no longer about electricity, it's no longer about food going bad; now it's also about not having water to drink. We won't even talk about hygiene because that's a luxury in this country."
The crisis described by Aguilera is supported by figures. According to official Cuban data released in May 2026, almost three million Cubans regularly suffer from water shortages, while about 10 million —practically the entire population— receive it intermittently.
Only in Havana, more than half a million Havanans are suffering from the water crisis in July 2026, compared to the 200,000 affected reported in April. The Guardian reported that up to 70% of the capital's water is lost due to leaks before it reaches homes.
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 operated with only 37% of the necessary fuel, according to a report by Infobae.
Desperation has overflowed onto social media and the streets. 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 due to the lack of water, and at the beginning of July, residents of Mantilla blocked traffic in protest for the same reason.
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