In a vivid display of the desperation engulfing Cuba, a woman from the Arroyo Naranjo neighborhood in Havana became a symbol of resilience after a viral video shared by exiled journalist Daniel Benítez showed her cooking with charcoal on a makeshift stove, lacking stable electricity and water.
"Cuba, look at how we are forced to live, cooking without knowing how to manage the charcoal. We can't take it anymore; there's no water, no power, it's unbearable," the woman laments in the 49-second video, which has garnered over 37,000 views on Facebook.
She describes the erratic power supply, saying, "They turned it on, off, on again, off again, on again. It's pure madness, people."
Her plea captures the exhaustion of a nation pushed to its brink: "They're destroying the children, the elderly, everyone. The stress is killing us. We can't endure this any longer, please, do something."
The Broader Picture of Desperation
This video is far from an isolated incident. Residents of Los Pinos, another area in Arroyo Naranjo, reported enduring 26 consecutive hours without electricity on June 20th. On the same day, another local reported 42 hours without power and more than three weeks without water.
The energy crisis is reflected in stark numbers: as of Wednesday, Cuba faced an electricity generation shortfall of between 2,035 and 2,075 MW against a nighttime demand of 3,250 MW. The record deficit was noted on May 14th, at 2,174 MW, leaving more than 54% of the island in darkness simultaneously.
Adapting to Survive
With gas and electricity in short supply, millions of Cubans have resorted to cooking with charcoal or wood, a necessity highlighted by the Food Monitor Program, which estimates that 35% of the population has turned to these fuels.
The cost of charcoal has skyrocketed—from 900 to 1,400 pesos per sack in late 2024 to between 3,200 and 5,000 pesos by June 2026—while the average state salary hovers around 6,930 pesos monthly.
"I have a similar charcoal stove. Soon we won't be able to use it because charcoal costs over 3,000 a sack," commented Yaisé Centeno on the video.
Yumary Zamora added, "We're at a loss. We don't know what we'll cook, and even retirees haven't been paid."
Nationwide Struggle
Other Cubans responding to the video emphasized that this struggle extends beyond Arroyo Naranjo.
"If it was just in Arroyo Naranjo, but it's all over Cuba. It's true, we're out of ideas," wrote Norges Dinza.
Maggy Morales was more blunt: "There are many neighborhoods across Cuba without power, water, or money."
The gas crisis compounds the situation: on June 16th, a liquefied gas cylinder reached 50,000 pesos, affecting around 834,000 customers.
With 87% of Cuban waterworks reliant on electricity for pumping, every blackout triggers a multifaceted supply crisis.
In response, Cubans have devised extreme solutions, such as adapting pressure cookers for charcoal stoves or building stoves from dry almond leaves, while a mechanic in Mayabeque modified a car to run on charcoal through biomass gasification.
Roxana Mugica summed up the widespread indignation with a pointed remark: "You have nothing, yet there was power, water, and transport for the funeral of another murderer. Down with the dictators."
Understanding Cuba's Energy and Resource Crisis
What led to the current energy crisis in Cuba?
Cuba's energy crisis is primarily due to a significant shortfall in electricity generation, with a deficit reaching up to 2,174 MW, causing widespread blackouts across the island.
How are Cubans coping with the lack of gas and electricity?
Many Cubans have resorted to using charcoal and wood for cooking, with some improvising stoves from materials like dry leaves and adapting pressure cookers.
What impact does the energy crisis have on water supply in Cuba?
Since 87% of Cuba's water systems depend on electricity to operate, power outages exacerbate the water supply issues, leading to a severe shortage of water access.