Frank Rodríguez, an analyst, has brought to light the dire situation in Cuba, highlighting an alarming reality: in several cities across the island, deceased individuals are being interred in mass graves. This is a consequence of families lacking the means to afford coffins, funeral services, or even the presence of clergy at burials.
"Reports indicate that in some areas, people are being buried in mass graves because there are no resources for coffins, funeral homes, flowers, or even clergy. It's as if death is just an end with no ceremony," Rodríguez stated from Miami.
This situation is not an isolated incident. The collapse of funeral services in Cuba has been well-documented for months. Back in February, a family in Velasco, Gibara (Holguín) had to fashion a makeshift coffin out of cardboard and tape due to the complete absence of coffins at the local funeral home.
Funeral Services in Crisis
In April, burials at the Vicente García cemetery in Las Tunas were halted due to reaching full capacity, forcing families to travel to places like Camagüey or Santiago de Cuba for burial services.
On September 1, the Las Tunas cemetery requested families to remove their deceased relatives' remains. Shortly thereafter, activist Lara Crofs stated emphatically, "The necrological services are utterly collapsed," warning that a dignified burial now depends on informal payments or family connections.
On October 3, a corpse was found abandoned in the sun amidst garbage in Havana, symbolizing the extreme neglect and degradation surrounding death in Cuba.
Official Denial and Grim Reality
According to an investigation by El Toque, Cuban authorities dispute the term "mass graves," yet acknowledge the need for new burial spaces due to system failures, following cemetery technical standards from 2007.
Rodríguez did not mince words, painting a bleak picture: "We are returning to agonizing, unbelievable conditions. Every day, we learn about more horrifying situations." He further lamented, "Cuba has metaphorically died, and we are simply inhaling the stench of its urgent burial. There won't be any wakes or ceremonies."
During the same discussion, writer Camilo Venegas, speaking from the Dominican Republic, highlighted those most affected by this breakdown. While the crisis impacts the entire population, Afro-Cubans bear the brunt. Data from 2026 suggests that 68% of the Afro-descendant population struggled to obtain basic necessities, compared to 61% of the general population.
Venegas was clear about the historical responsibility of the regime. "I don't believe there were truly effective policies within the Revolution to lift the Afro-descendant population out of poverty. They have always been the most vulnerable," he asserted. "The collective housing conditions where poverty is concentrated never disappeared. Some forms of segregation ended, but vulnerability persisted."
In 2018, the UN warned that racism and structural discrimination against Afro-descendants remain prevalent in Cuba, with fewer employment opportunities, low representation in decision-making roles, and higher poverty levels—a reality exacerbated by the current crisis.
The Harsh Realities of Cuban Burial Practices
Why are deceased individuals being buried in mass graves in Cuba?
Families in Cuba are unable to afford coffins, funeral services, or clergy for burials, leading to the use of mass graves in several cities.
What has been the response of the Cuban authorities to these burial practices?
While Cuban authorities reject the term "mass graves," they acknowledge the need for new burial spaces due to the system's collapse, following technical standards from 2007.
Who is most affected by the collapse of funeral services in Cuba?
The Afro-Cuban population is particularly impacted, facing higher poverty levels and greater difficulty in accessing basic necessities.