A Cuban mother, Lianet Nina Yanza, shared a poignant video on Facebook, capturing the harsh reality faced by countless families on the island. In the dead of night, amidst a power outage, she fans her baby manually to ward off mosquitoes and help him sleep.
"Look at this, fanning air to a fan so the baby can sleep, because mosquitoes won't lift the weight," Lianet narrates in the video.
"Once my hand tires, they'll devour him and me. Mosquitoes will eat us both. Why? Because there's no power. It's the norm," she expressed with frustration.
The Struggle Against Power Outages
In her post, Lianet explained that at 4:30 AM, the "entire Electric Distribution turned on," yet homes remained in darkness, a situation that has become all too common.
Exhausted, she directed a sharp warning at the regime: "How far will you push the Cuban people? You're prompting us to take to the streets and shout for electricity, only to repress us and ruin families by arresting people. This is what you're provoking."
The video has surpassed 136,000 views, a testament to the widespread frustration among the Cuban population amid an unrelenting crisis.
The Impact on Families and Children
Since the energy crisis intensified in Cuba, numerous mothers have turned to social media to document the effects of blackouts on their children: babies covered in mosquito bites, children drenched in sweat, and families seeking solace on rooftops to escape the sweltering nighttime heat.
As August drew to a close, several mothers agreed that "this has been the worst summer" since the onset of the energy crisis.
Lianet, residing in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality of Havana, has previously gone viral with a video on July 25, where she denounced power outages lasting between 60 and 90 hours in her area, labeling the government as "failed."
Widespread Power Deficits
Earlier this week, the Unión Eléctrica reported a mere 990 MW available against a peak demand of 3,250 MW, anticipating a deficit of 2,290 MW. On Wednesday, blackouts affected 70% of the country simultaneously, according to data from the entity itself. Eleven out of sixteen thermoelectric units were out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance.
The historical maximum deficit was recorded in July at 2,341 MW, and Cuba has experienced at least seven nationwide blackouts this year, with outages in some areas exceeding 72 consecutive hours.
Beyond physical exhaustion, the lack of electricity poses an increasing health risk. Outages disrupt water pumping, forcing residents to store it in domestic containers, ideal breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
In June, the Ministry of Public Health warned of a potential dengue epidemic with the simultaneous circulation of all four virus serotypes.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing frequent power outages due to a significant deficit between electricity supply and peak demand, compounded by aging infrastructure and maintenance issues.
How are Cuban families coping with the outages?
Families are resorting to manual fanning, seeking refuge on rooftops, and using social media to document their struggles and raise awareness about the conditions they face.
What health risks are associated with the blackouts?
The blackouts disrupt water supply, requiring storage in containers that can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of diseases like dengue.