Yusimi Castellano, 58, is a mother living on the 18th floor of an apartment building in Santiago de Cuba. Every night, she makes a choice that many would find alarming: she cooks with charcoal. Despite having asthma and suffering from shortness of breath, she can’t afford to skip meals. “If I don’t cook, I die,” she says.
In her building, life has transformed dramatically since it was opened four decades ago to showcase the promises of the Cuban Revolution. Now, residents struggle to find basic cooking supplies. Many can’t even buy charcoal and resort to gathering firewood instead. The economic situation, worsened by U.S. sanctions, has left many families in dire straits.
Since the Trump administration imposed harsh sanctions, the flow of oil and fuel to Cuba has nearly stopped. Venezuela, once a primary supplier, significantly cut off its support after US actions against its government. The result? Cuba’s electric grid is crumbling, and power outages often last up to 20 hours a day, causing widespread chaos and a looming humanitarian crisis.
Local sentiments reflect deep despair. Yusimi’s niece, Yailen Menéndez, describes the situation as the country being “strangled.” With the elevator frequently out of order, Yailen must help her elderly mother, who has dementia, walk down numerous flights of stairs to access food and services.
Residents have adapted in creative ways. “Night has become day,” one neighbor notes, describing how people scramble to complete chores as soon as the lights come back on. This chaotic lifestyle is a stark contrast to a time when these poorly maintained buildings were seen as symbols of hope and progress.
Historically, Santiago was home to revolutionary flames—it’s where Fidel Castro’s attack on the Moncada barracks ignited the Cuban Revolution. Now, it’s marked by a different kind of struggle. Once a beacon of government support, the city’s residents now face economic hardships without adequate resources. The situation has forced many to find alternative cooking methods, with some using cardboard and scrap wood.
Haydee Gómez Suárez, another resident, reflects on her own hardships. She relies on sales from thin plastic bags outside bakeries, but when there’s no electricity, the bakeries don’t produce bread. Over recent years, she has lost significant weight, often managing just one meal a day.
The frustration is palpable. Residents like Anyerman Quiñones Goicoechea feel disheartened after years of service to a system they believe has failed them. Critics of the government, like him, blame poor management and misplaced priorities, stating that the focus has shifted to tourism instead of essential infrastructures like power plants.
Surveys show that Cuba’s economic issues are increasingly resonant. According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), inflation has soared, straining the limited resources available to families. Even amidst these challenges, the resilience of the people shines through. Community members share supplies and encourage one another, highlighting the human spirit’s ability to adapt and survive.
In a society marked by difficulty, feelings of disillusionment are common. Many say they no longer care about the underlying reasons for their hardships; they’re simply focused on daily survival. “Our job is to hustle,” sums up the mindset of many residents.
As life continues in this once-promising city, the people of Santiago bear witness to a stark contrast between hope and reality—one that shapes their everyday existence in profound ways.
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United States International Relations,Embargoes and Sanctions,Electric Light and Power,Cooking and Cookbooks,Shortages,Power Failures and Blackouts,Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline,Trump, Donald J,Castro, Fidel,Castro, Raul,Cuba,Santiago de Cuba (Cuba)
