A Cuban mother, visibly distraught, has taken to social media to expose the dire circumstances she and her three children are enduring due to the widespread blackout that has gripped Cuba since October 18, 2024. In a poignant video, she demonstrates how she is forced to use firewood to cook, as the absence of electricity and gas has left her home in disarray, stripping her of basic cooking options. This footage was uploaded to Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
"Look at how I have to improvise," the woman says, pointing to a makeshift stove where she struggles to boil water over wood. Her voice trembles with desperation as she tearfully explains that the only food she can provide for her children is some spaghetti with salt. Her distress is palpable as she shares that she has nothing else to feed them.
Enduring Over 72 Hours Without Power Amid Ongoing Outages
The Cuban mother reports having been without electricity for more than 72 hours, a situation that is all too familiar to her and countless others across the island. This massive blackout is merely the latest in a long series of electrical outages plaguing Cuba in recent years. "I have no power, no gas," she laments, acknowledging that authorities warn these initial 72 hours could be the start of an even longer ordeal.
This extended blackout adds to months, even years, of continuous power outages that have severely impacted Cuba, particularly in its most vulnerable areas. Families have been forced to adapt to life without basic necessities, devising ways to cook and survive amid an energy crisis that seemingly has no resolution in sight.
Broken Promises from Politicians
The woman also delivers a scathing criticism of political leaders, noting that "they claim to be working on solutions, but they never deliver." Her testimony highlights the growing frustration and distrust among the Cuban populace toward their government, which has repeatedly failed to fulfill its promises to improve the nation’s energy situation.
For years, politicians have pledged to resolve the chronic blackouts, but the reality on the ground is starkly different. Cubans have been subjected to nearly daily power cuts, many of them unannounced, severely affecting their quality of life. The repercussions of the power shortages extend beyond households, stalling economic activity, restricting access to essential services, and deepening the sense of neglect felt by the people.
Surviving with Limited Resources
This mother's account is emblematic of the desperation felt by many Cuban families. The lack of electricity and gas has compelled them to resort to primitive survival methods, such as cooking with firewood—a practice thought to be relegated to the past. As she prepares the scant food she has for her children, she mentions having to scavenge for sticks in the vicinity to light the fire. "This is how I have to keep improvising," she repeats, underscoring her indignation over living under such conditions.
Her narrative not only highlights the scarcity of resources but also the helplessness of being unable to offer her children more than a meager plate of spaghetti with salt. The image of this mother cooking over a wood fire, while lamenting the lack of electricity and gas, symbolizes the severe crisis afflicting the island—one that has persisted for months and years, with no end in sight.
Unanswered Questions and Unresolved Issues
As the video progresses, the woman expresses her uncertainty about when the power will be restored. Like many other Cubans, she has learned not to trust the government's announcements. "They say it's 72 hours, but we never know when the lights will come back," she remarks with resignation, recalling the endless outages she has endured in the past.
This widespread blackout is yet another reflection of the systemic problems facing Cuba, where the energy infrastructure continues to falter and leaders fail to provide clear solutions. Meanwhile, the population is left to grapple with extended power cuts, forced to find makeshift ways to survive in a nation where blackouts have become an everyday reality.
A Story Echoing the Struggles of Many Cubans
The video of this Cuban mother serves as a plea for assistance amid an untenable situation. Her story mirrors that of millions of Cubans who have faced relentless blackouts, unfulfilled promises, and a pervasive sense of abandonment by their government over months and years. The desperation of having to cook with firewood in a country that once boasted a more stable energy system captures the gradual decline in living conditions on the island.
As the massive blackout continues to impact millions, tales like that of this Cuban mother become a stark reminder of the hardships faced by the population daily and the urgent need for real solutions to a crisis that appears unending.
On October 18, 2024, Cuba experienced a massive blackout due to the complete shutdown of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), leaving millions of Cubans without power. The cause was the failure of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the country's most critical energy sources. While the government claimed to be working on restoring service, they admitted there was no set timeline for the recovery. In Havana, even the José Martí International Airport was plunged into darkness, disrupting operations.
In the eastern provinces, such as Santiago de Cuba and Holguín, blackouts have been prolonged, with some areas experiencing over 72 hours without electricity. This has led to public demonstrations by citizens. In Báguanos, Holguín, a group of residents protested, demanding the restoration of power with chants of "We want electricity!" These protests underscore the growing dissatisfaction among the population with the ongoing energy crisis.