The human rights activist from Holguín, Evert Oscar Matos Leyva, has brought attention to the severe water supply issues affecting residents in the Holguín municipality of Moa. Evert Oscar, who runs the information blog El Caimán Libre, described a recent incident where "late on Saturday night (11 pm), after more than three weeks without water service, it was briefly restored to Coloradas Nuevas, coinciding with a widespread blackout. By early Sunday morning, the service was cut off again."
This situation left many local residents without access to water, unable to perform essential tasks that require it. Evert Oscar humorously noted that "washing machines don't run on coal or wood, they need electricity."
On Facebook, Evert Oscar criticized the authorities, urging them to prevent their "mistakes" from becoming "horrors." He pointed out, "You, who misgovern Moa in the name of the totalitarian PCC, supply yourselves with tank trucks while the people know and see this daily. There is photographic evidence and witnesses of your abusive corruption. So, while you still hold power, use it to serve the public as you should, not act as masters of what belongs to the people!"
He reflected that "this mistreatment of Moa's residents is a deliberate effort to wear us down, adding crisis after crisis, diminishing our resolve and focus. They crush us, and we let ourselves be crushed."
Widespread Water Crisis Plagues Cuba
The water shortage crisis adds to the existing issues of medication, food, and electricity shortages on the island, pushing Cuban citizens to their limits. Many turn to social media to share their struggles. One such case is the TikTok user Jesús de Cuba (@jesusdecuba) from Santiago de Cuba. He reported that, after seven days without water, he had to push a cart to a neighbor's house with a cistern to fill some bottles for personal use.
In the comments on his post, a user mentioned that the outskirts of the city are facing an even more severe crisis, with longer periods without water supply.
The problem has also reached traditionally exclusive areas of Havana, such as El Vedado in Plaza de la Revolución. There, residents have been struggling for months to access potable water. Most affected are the elderly, many retirees, and bedridden seniors who are not receiving water in their homes, creating serious challenges in their daily lives.
Government Inaction and Public Outrage
The government's inability to resolve this crisis reflects its failures in other areas. Videos circulating online showing Cubans desperately chasing water trucks for supplies evoke feelings of sadness and outrage rather than surprise.
Recently, the Cuban regime admitted that over 600,000 Cubans currently lack access to potable water. The Institute of Hydraulic Resources blames the energy crisis affecting the country.
The government claims to have implemented a strategy to address this crisis, prioritizing areas with the highest number of affected residents. However, the results are not evident in many regions.