On Wednesday, a Cuban woman living abroad, known on TikTok as @evelynjaimec, shared an emotional video detailing a recent trip to Cuba. During her visit, she unexpectedly shifted her plans to distribute food to those in need alongside members of a Christian church, right after a massive blackout left the island without power for nearly 30 hours.
Evelyn explained that her initial visit to Cuba did not include these intentions. "I didn't go to Cuba planning to do this. In fact, I had other plans, but when I arrived and witnessed the reality firsthand—not the one they tell you about, but the one they live—something inside me changed," she wrote in the video description.
The trip coincided with a nationwide blackout on March 16, when Cuba's National Electric System completely failed at 1:40 PM, plunging nearly 10 million Cubans into darkness for 29 hours and 29 minutes. It marked the sixth national blackout in just 18 months. "The day before, Cuba was entirely in the dark, and many people hadn’t eaten properly; they had nothing to eat," Evelyn recounted.
A Heartfelt Response to Urgent Need
Confronted with the dire situation, Evelyn teamed up with a local church congregation to start distributing meals. "Initially, there were only a few people, but soon many more arrived than I ever imagined. And while doing all this, my heart couldn't stop feeling overwhelmed, wanting to cry, because it's something I can't quite explain," she shared.
She expressed gratitude for the support she received: "Thanks to the church and the brothers who were present, because I didn't do this alone. This is also about living from an identity in Christ," she wrote, as the video amassed 3,688 views, 352 likes, and 36 comments.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba
Evelyn's actions occur amid one of Cuba's worst humanitarian crises in decades. Over 70% of Cuban households have reduced the amount or quality of their food intake, and 36% of the population suffers from food insecurity, according to the World Food Program. The country relies on imports for 70 to 80% of its food needs, with domestic rice production covering a mere 11% of demand.
The situation worsened in January 2026 with a fuel supply collapse, which halted agricultural machinery, transportation, and food distribution across the island. Eighty percent of Cubans believe the current situation is worse than the Special Period of the 1990s, according to recent data.
"This trip taught me that purpose isn't always about moving forward; sometimes, it's about stopping, looking at others, and choosing to serve," Evelyn concluded in her video description, capturing the sentiment many Cubans in the diaspora feel when faced with the harsh realities of the island today.
Understanding the Impact of Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was due to a complete failure of Cuba's National Electric System, which left the island without power for approximately 29 hours.
How has the food crisis affected Cuban households?
More than 70% of Cuban households have had to reduce the quantity or quality of their food, with 36% of the population experiencing food insecurity.
How reliant is Cuba on food imports?
Cuba imports between 70 to 80% of its food needs, as domestic production, such as rice, covers only a small fraction of the demand.