The Cuban government, through the Currency Collection Stores (TRD), has begun selling bottled water to residents of the Van Toy 2 neighborhood in the Caibarién municipality of Villa Clara. These residents have been facing a water crisis for nearly a month.
"It's difficult and concerning that we have to buy bottled water, but we've organized among neighbors to place a joint order to reduce costs. Our unity has helped us cope with this situation," said resident María González to state journalist Henry Omar Pérez.
"Our priority is the children. We've always had water at home, and now we have to adjust our routine. Thank God we can still get bottled water, although it's not ideal," was another comment posted by the journalist on his Facebook profile.
Both comments shared by Pérez highlight a resignation to the water shortage in the municipality, which contrasts with the constant complaints on social media aiming to hold the regime accountable. Official images show that the sale of water gallons is being managed through the food rationing system, with five-liter water gallons costing 85 Cuban pesos.
They have received 4,255 water gallons, reported María del Rosario Urbay Ceballos, the deputy mayor of the Municipal Administration Council, to state media in Villa Clara. "We have prioritized children aged zero to 13, and we will next attend to elderly people living alone, pregnant women, and vulnerable families," added Urbay Ceballos.
According to the commercial manager of TRD in that municipality, Yoarkis López González, they are aware of the people's need for water for the past month.
"We have intensified our efforts to ensure the access to bottled water is as efficient as possible. Additionally, we maintain constant dialogue with local authorities to find ways to improve the situation," Pérez shared.
He also emphasized that "it is crucial for neighbors to continue uniting and coordinating their efforts. From TRD, we are here to facilitate access and ensure that every family can get the water they need."
As of the close of this information, the government assured that 16 more pallets of water were arriving, representing 7,200 bottles of one and a half liters each.
Additionally, the CNTV telecenter reported that "the pump installed in Pozo Ocho is operating within correct parameters," predicting that "water should reach Caibarién within two hours of starting the pumping."
Due to the water shortage, residents in some Cuban neighborhoods have closed streets and staged peaceful protests to draw the government's attention. Residents of San Miguel del Padrón in Havana, desperate and outraged by the lack of water for more than two weeks, took to the streets to protest and block their neighborhood streets.
Currently, more than 600,000 Cubans lack access to potable water supply services, and the Institute of Hydraulic Resources blames the energy crisis affecting the country.
The president of the Water and Sanitation Business Group, José Antonio Hernández Álvarez, acknowledged that the water supply situation in Cuba is critical but insists that the main issue is the continuous power outages causing failures in the pumping system.
FAQs on Water Shortages in Caibarién
Given the current water crisis in Caibarién, many residents have questions about the situation and the government's response. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why is there a water shortage in Caibarién?
The water shortage in Caibarién is primarily due to the ongoing energy crisis in Cuba, which has caused continuous power outages affecting the water pumping systems.
How is the government addressing the water shortage?
The government, through TRD, has started selling bottled water to residents. They are also prioritizing vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
What are the costs and distribution methods for bottled water?
Five-liter gallons of bottled water are being sold for 85 Cuban pesos and are distributed through the food rationing system.
Have there been any public reactions to the water shortage?
Yes, residents in some neighborhoods have closed streets and staged peaceful protests to draw attention to the water shortage and demand solutions from the government.