A Cuban mother and her two young children, one just seven months old and the other four years old, were left homeless this Thursday, October 15, after a fire completely destroyed their humble home in the western area of Las Tunas.
The tragedy occurred around two in the afternoon, when the woman had gone out with her children to gather firewood for cooking. While she was outside, the house began to catch fire and neighbors had to shout to alert her about the blaze. They tried to extinguish the flames, but they were unable to save the house, according to a call for help shared on Facebook.
According to the publication, the mother had left a stove on outside the house before heading to a nearby dump to look for firewood.
The small house, primarily built of wood and cardboard, was destroyed by the fire. The blaze consumed the home and all the family's belongings, which now urgently needs help to meet its most basic needs.
The photographs released alongside the plea for help depict a heartbreaking scene: remnants of charred wood, zinc sheets warped by the heat, and debris covered in ash.
In one of the images, the mother is shown holding her baby, while other photographs display the remnants of their home.
Cooking with firewood, an increasingly common necessity in Cuba
The tragedy occurs in a country where prolonged blackouts and difficulties in obtaining domestic gas have forced many families to rely on wood and charcoal stoves to prepare their meals.
In March, images of wood stoves set up on the balconies of buildings in Santiago de Cuba illustrated how some residents had to improvise alternatives for cooking due to the lack of electricity and fuel.
The precariousness of many homes increases the risks associated with the use of open flames, especially when they are built with wood, cardboard, and other flammable materials.
In February, a mother of three children lost all her belongings in a fire that occurred in Santiago de Cuba.
The woman, who was responsible for three minors aged 12, 11, and five, publicly sought help after stating that the authorities had informed her they did not have sufficient resources to assist her.
The difficulties of rebuilding a house after a fire are compounded by the housing crisis that Cuba is experiencing.
According to official figures collected by the EFE agency in July 2026, the housing deficit on the island exceeds 800,000 homes.
They are asking for help for the mother and her two children
Following the fire in Las Tunas, a call for solidarity was circulated on Facebook to gather food, clothing, and essential items for children.
Among the most pressing needs, they mention milk, diapers, and other products for the seven-month-old baby, as well as clothing and shoes for the mother and her children.
They also request mattresses, sheets, basic food items, and construction materials to rebuild the house.
Interested individuals can use the WhatsApp contact provided in the Facebook post to collaborate.
The message shared on social media invites those who are unable to make donations to share the plea for help so that it reaches people willing to contribute.
"Today for them, tomorrow for any one of us!" concludes the post.
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