Over 50,000 Cuban residents in the Canary Islands continue to watch the unfolding situation in their homeland with concern, calling for political change as the sole solution to the ongoing crisis. This sentiment was captured in a recent RadioTelevisión Canaria report released earlier this week.
Yordanka Sarmiento, serving as the secretary of the Association of Cubans in Gran Canaria, was the main voice in the report, underscoring the severe nature of the crisis in Cuba: "The situation there is dire, chronic, and cyclical. Change is the only path forward for the Caribbean nation facing this extreme moment."
Sarmiento describes a population weary and disillusioned by a system that has governed for over six decades: "Suffering, desperate, and open to any option for change."
Her statements highlight a significant departure from the official rhetoric of the regime, which has long prioritized national sovereignty over individual needs: "Cubans have moved past that indoctrination of putting sovereignty and the homeland above all else. What Cubans want now is to live."
These remarks come shortly after the UN and WHO issued warnings about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day in some areas.
International bodies report that over 100,000 patients — including more than 11,000 children — are awaiting postponed surgeries due to lack of electricity and supplies, while around five million people with chronic illnesses face treatment disruptions.
The alert was issued last Saturday by Edem Wosornu from the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Altaf Musani from the World Health Organization, following a three-day mission to the island.
The Cuban community in the Canary Islands has been proactive in response to the deteriorating conditions. On March 29, Cubans residing in Tenerife gathered in Santa Cruz's Plaza de España under the slogan "Freedom is This Year" and chants like "If Cuba is on the streets, so are we," protesting against blackouts, food shortages, and the lack of medicines.
The government of the Canary Islands has also responded to the emergency: they approved the shipment of 75 tons of canned chicken to Villa Clara, one of the hardest-hit provinces, where in February 2026, the sale of rationed bread was restricted to only those under 13 and over 65 years old.
The exodus of Cubans to Spain continues to rise. In 2023, the number of Cubans who became Spanish citizens in the Canary Islands doubled compared to the previous year, and at least 27,000 Cubans registered in Spain in 2025, bringing the total Cuban population in the country to over 160,000. Since 2021, more than a million people have left the island.
Sarmiento's words encapsulate the sentiment of a diaspora that no longer expects solutions from the regime: "What Cubans want is to live."
Understanding the Cuban Crisis and Its Impact on the Diaspora
Why are Cubans in the Canary Islands concerned about the crisis in Cuba?
The Cuban residents in the Canary Islands are deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Cuba, which has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and electricity, and they believe that political change is the only viable solution.
What actions have the Canary Islands taken to assist Cuba?
The government of the Canary Islands has approved the shipment of 75 tons of canned chicken to the province of Villa Clara, addressing the severe food shortages affecting vulnerable populations.
How has the Cuban population in Spain changed in recent years?
The Cuban community in Spain has grown significantly, with the number of Cubans becoming Spanish citizens in the Canary Islands doubling in 2023 compared to the previous year, and over 27,000 Cubans registering in Spain in 2025.