Blind Elderly Man in Holguín Saved from Starvation by Community Support

In San Rafael, Holguín, a blind elderly man living alone in dire poverty has been receiving significant community support after his plight was highlighted recently. Neighbors and activists have come together to help construct a modest living space to improve his living conditions.

This Sunday, activist Ernesto Almaguer Díaz shared on Facebook that numerous individuals have rallied to assist the man. He also criticized the authorities for their lack of response to his dire situation.

"Without the support of his neighbors, this gentleman would have succumbed to hunger and destitution long ago," Almaguer stated, labeling the scenario as a "social abandonment" case.

Through a video update, Almaguer explained that thanks to the efforts of Noly Blak, other volunteers, and a humanitarian project led by Yamilet Toirac Lobaina, construction is underway for a small room for the elderly man. Essential items have also been secured to be provided upon completion of this space.

Almaguer contrasted this grassroots effort with the substantial funds reportedly allocated by the municipal government for various projects in San Rafael in celebration of July 26th.

According to Almaguer, the government has supposedly spent more than 200 million pesos—an amount he estimates close to 300 million—on payments to small and medium-sized enterprises tasked with executing these projects.

"If the Holguín government spent over 300 million or nearly that amount on social projects, what better social project is there than creating a small living space with a bathroom and kitchenette for someone like him?" he questioned.

The elderly man had previously been the subject of public concern due to the harsh conditions he endured in San Rafael. Completely blind and without family, he navigates his domestic chores by touch alone.

His home floods when it rains, and he lives with no children or relatives to care for him. He sleeps on a board covered with cardboard, uses a bucket as a toilet, and cooks under hazardous conditions with exposed electrical wires.

During one visit, he had only rice and a little flour, which he couldn't cook due to a power outage.

An additional challenge is the high cost of traveling to collect his pension. At the time, he received around 3,000 pesos monthly but had to spend up to 2,000 pesos on transportation to access his funds, leaving him with very little for food and other essentials.

"The revolution did not support him; it left him alone," Almaguer declared in his video, holding state institutions accountable for neglecting the elderly man's needs.

Meanwhile, in San Rafael, it is the neighbors, activists, and private solidarity projects working to improve his living conditions. "Thanks to all those who offered their help and compassion," Almaguer expressed, acknowledging those involved in this initiative.

This situation highlights the broader challenges faced by the elderly in Cuba, exacerbated by population aging, diminishing pension purchasing power, food and medicine shortages, and family emigration. Many older adults are left to rely on neighbors, churches, and solidarity projects for basic needs.

In July, an analysis revealed that by the end of 2024, 25.7% of Cuba's population will be 60 or older, emphasizing the insufficiency of pensions and the weakening of family networks, which have increased the vulnerability of this demographic.

State authorities have admitted the limitations of the social assistance system. In March, officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security acknowledged that the available budget was insufficient to support all those deemed vulnerable, even as the demand for aid rises.