This week, social media users issued an urgent plea for help for a young girl living in the La Lisa area of Havana, Cuba, who is showing severe signs of malnutrition.
A Facebook user named Rasshely Aguilar Aguilera shared the contact number of the girl's mother, Ariana, encouraging anyone who can assist to reach out directly.
The Facebook post is accompanied by photos depicting young Claudia with noticeably thin limbs and other physical indicators of severe malnutrition. She is seen with a young woman who appears to be her mother or caretaker.
Claudia's struggles began when she contracted meningitis at the tender age of five months, a condition that has left her in a precarious state. Now 13 years old, she continues to battle extreme thinness.
"Friends, I don’t usually post such things, but I felt compelled to do so. The young woman you see in the photos needs help for her daughter. As you can see, the child's health is in a very delicate state," wrote Rasshely, noting that she lacks detailed medical information about the case.
Before publicizing the situation, Rasshely attempted to contact several content creators, albeit without success: "I messaged multiple influencers with the photos but received no response, so I decided to share it myself since it's heartbreaking."
The contact number for Claudia’s mother is 50162794. Another Cuban, Yai Savón, who visited the family, has also joined the call for help and provided some assistance.
The Broader Crisis of Malnutrition in Cuba
This case is part of a distressing trend in Cuba where families, lacking state support, increasingly turn to social media as their only means of seeking help.
In May 2025, a ten-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and chronic malnutrition in Guantánamo received community support amounting to 881,000 Cuban pesos following an online campaign.
Earlier, in January 2025, a mother sought humanitarian aid for her two-year-old son, Lucian Roger, who suffers from a unique progressive liver disease accompanied by chronic malnutrition.
In January 2024, assistance was requested for a 15-year-old diabetic girl in Camagüey, whose mother’s pension of 2,600 pesos was inadequate for necessary medical and nutritional needs.
The issue of child malnutrition in Cuba is now internationally recognized, having shifted from a silent crisis to one that commands global attention.
In December 2024, UNICEF included Cuba in its child food poverty report for the first time, highlighting that 9% of Cuban children only have access to two of the eight essential food groups necessary for a healthy diet.
The National Office of Statistics and Information reported a 74% rise in deaths from malnutrition between 2022 and 2023, from 43 to 75 fatalities, while 90% of Cuban primary schools lack potable water and provide unbalanced diets.
The World Food Program extended support to 1.3 million people in Cuba during 2024, responding to worsening food insecurity amid economic contraction and foreign currency shortages that limit basic food imports.
Understanding Child Malnutrition in Cuba
What are the main causes of child malnutrition in Cuba?
Child malnutrition in Cuba is primarily caused by economic challenges, insufficient state support, and difficulties in accessing essential food items and medical care.
How is social media being used to address malnutrition in Cuba?
Social media is increasingly used by Cuban families as a platform to seek help and raise awareness about malnutrition, bypassing traditional state channels.
What role does the World Food Program play in Cuba?
The World Food Program provides crucial aid to millions of Cubans, helping to mitigate food insecurity caused by economic downturns and limited food imports.