A group of mothers with large families, 19 children, a bedridden individual, and a pregnant young woman faced eviction from the former Ice Factory in Santiago de Cuba this Friday. The group has occupied the factory since May due to severe housing problems.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta reported on Facebook that the group took over the old building, located on Barracones Street, which had previously been used as a garbage dump. They were driven by desperation from "governmental lies and runarounds" after years of waiting for housing solutions.
Mayeta noted that after two months of occupation, an individual, supported by the City's Government and the Director of Physical Planning, known as Bárbara, authorized the mothers' expulsion from the site.
When the women arrived at the location on Friday, they found the door broken and the supposed owner inside, preventing their access "while the children were present," Mayeta reported.
The video shared by the journalist clearly shows the high level of desperation among these mothers. In a violent act, they destroyed the barrier preventing them from reaching their children and entering what they consider their only refuge.
Additionally, the mothers expressed fear for their safety, alleging that the supposed owner of the factory threatened them. This situation has generated concern and fear among the women, who fear for their lives and the safety of their children.
Last Monday, a Cuban man reported the eviction of his elderly grandmother from her home in Bayamo, Granma, and condemned the total inaction of the National Police (PNR), which refused to accept the complaint.
On the Facebook group Revolico in Havana, user Ali Sami posted twice within hours, detailing the situation of Mrs. Libia Sablon Aguilera, who, at 83 years old, suffers from a hip fracture.
In April, Cuban Edelvis Reina Fonseca del Toro, mother of an eight-year-old girl, reported that authorities threatened to evict her and demolish the small rustic house she built with her own effort, in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality in Havana.
Fonseca, 51, constructed a room with wood and zinc sheets about two months ago in the Las Yaguas neighborhood, in the Cuncuní district, where she lives with her daughter, reported the newspaper CubaNet.
Housing Crisis and Evictions in Santiago de Cuba
Below are some frequently asked questions about the housing crisis and evictions in Santiago de Cuba:
What led the mothers in Santiago de Cuba to occupy the Ice Factory?
The mothers occupied the Ice Factory due to severe housing problems and desperation after years of waiting for government solutions that never materialized.
Who authorized the eviction of the mothers from the Ice Factory?
The eviction was authorized by an individual supported by the City's Government and the Director of Physical Planning, known as Bárbara.
What are the concerns of the mothers facing eviction?
The mothers expressed fear for their safety, alleging that the supposed owner of the factory threatened them. This has caused concern and fear among the women, who worry about their lives and their children's safety.