Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has vehemently denied that Cuba is on the brink of collapse, labeling reports and images circulating on social media as part of a "campaign by haters." During a meeting of the National Defense Council on Thursday, Díaz-Canel urged the dissemination of information on the nation's recovery progress following the devastating impact of Hurricane Rafael, which hit the province of Artemisa and western Cuba as a whole.
"We need to provide extensive information on our recovery efforts, on what truly happened, and dismantle this adversarial campaign initiated by haters claiming Cuba is collapsing. No one here is collapsing; we are standing firm and fighting," the leader declared.
Efforts to Rebuild After Hurricane Rafael
Hurricane Rafael struck the island this week, causing severe material damage and exacerbating the ongoing crisis in a country already plagued by power outages and shortages of essential resources. Díaz-Canel emphasized that the National Electro-Energy System has been restored, recovery actions for cyclone damage are underway, and no human casualties have been reported so far.
The Cuban government has mobilized brigades from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), and the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) to conduct recovery work in the affected areas. Authorities have shared images of Díaz-Canel visiting strategic locations in Havana and Artemisa, seemingly to showcase his leadership during these challenging times.
Public Dissent and Government Response
Díaz-Canel's rhetoric, reminiscent of his response to recent crises, aims to project resilience and strength in the face of criticism, particularly following the reported disorganization in handling Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo last month. Public grievances against the government have highlighted delays in delivering supplies to victims, inadequate evacuation efforts in Guantánamo, and prolonged power outages lasting over 20 hours nationwide.
From the official Cuban Presidency account on the social media platform X, posts have been shared depicting the leader asserting that the country was "prepared and organized" to tackle the crisis. This rhetoric starkly contrasts with the reality faced by much of the Cuban population, who are struggling to meet basic needs amidst increasing scarcity, lacking food, medicine, and fuel to cook what little they have.