Lieutenant Colonel William González Hernández, head of the Provincial Civil Defense in Matanzas, has called on residents to prepare an emergency backpack with essentials like medication, clothing, a flashlight, water, and food in anticipation of potential hurricanes.
This plea sparked widespread outrage on social media, as Cubans pointed out the bitter irony of the government urging citizens to stockpile items that are currently unavailable.
"Our population is wise and knows which family guidelines to follow in the event of a hydrometeorological event. They should prepare a backpack with medications, clothing, a flashlight, water, and some food," González stated in a video message.
Reactions were swift. "Medicines, food, and water to save. If we don't even have enough to use right now, how can we stock up?" one person commented.
Another summed up the general sentiment: "An empty backpack, how shameless." A third individual was more blunt: "There's not even water. Let's not even talk about medications."
One user wrote under the video, "We already have the cyclone. No words for what we are enduring. My God, how much longer must we endure this?"
The timing of this message makes it even harder to ignore the contradiction: According to official data, 461 out of 651 essential medications—more than 70%—are either completely unavailable or in short supply at Cuban state pharmacies.
Regarding food security, a national survey released in May revealed that 33.9% of Cuban households have at least one member who goes to sleep hungry, and 94.9% of respondents lost access to purchasing food in the past year.
Matanzas, where the video was released, is one of the five provinces experiencing critical levels of food insecurity, alongside Havana, Cienfuegos, Guantánamo, and Santiago de Cuba, as reported by the Food Monitor Program.
Despite this, the narrative of the "emergency backpack" is not new. In May, the Civil Defense distributed a similar family guide in Granma, suggesting the same types of supplies—bread, cereals, canned goods, and medications—as part of the "Year of Preparedness for Defense" declared by the regime.
Now, this rhetoric is being reused for the hurricane season, yet the core issue remains: the government is asking people to preserve what it has failed to provide.
Understanding Cuba's Resource Shortages
Why is there a shortage of medications in Cuba?
Cuba faces a shortage of medications largely due to economic mismanagement and trade restrictions, which limit the availability of essential drugs in pharmacies across the island.
What is the current food security situation in Cuba?
Food security in Cuba is critical, with a significant portion of the population experiencing hunger due to reduced access to food, exacerbated by the country's economic challenges.
How are Cuban citizens reacting to government advisories?
Cuban citizens are reacting with frustration and skepticism to government advisories, as they are asked to prepare for emergencies with resources that are currently scarce or unavailable.