Activist Yamilka Laffita, known on social media as Lara Crofs, shared a heart-wrenching story this Tuesday about a 72-year-old woman who, driven by desperation and scarcity, knocked on her door in Havana asking for food. "The government's debt to seniors is unpayable," the activist concluded sorrowfully after her conversation with Felicia, whose story she posted on Facebook.
Laffita admitted feeling a tightness in her chest as she stood before a woman who, despite her embarrassment, asked if she had any bread to spare: "I gave her a loaf of bread and the spaghetti I had bought."
Felicia explained that, despite having participated in numerous revolutionary programs throughout her life, the current government has left her with a pension of 1700 CUP, insufficient to meet her basic needs.
"Before she left, I offered her some hygiene products and a bit of money. She accepted, embarrassed but very grateful. I told her she could come in the afternoons to eat if she needed, and that if I wasn't home, the two people who should know would be informed," Laffita recounted.
"I watched her walk away with her white hair and her small bag. Before she did, she hugged me, and I almost broke down," the activist noted, expressing her sadness over a situation that reflects the reality faced by many elderly in Cuba.
Widespread Neglect of the Elderly in Cuba
"The debt this government owes to the elderly is unpayable, like everything they have done to this people," Laffita reaffirmed.
Finally, visibly affected by the woman's story, she shared a poignant and compelling message with her followers: "When you encounter vulnerable people, try to help them with whatever you can. They also have rights. The government has already abandoned them, don't do the same."
The elderly in Cuba make up one of the most vulnerable groups, neglected by the regime, and suffering from widespread scarcity and misery.
Recently, retiree Mirtha Fernández, a resident of El Vedado in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, Havana, took to social media to denounce the water supply crisis affecting her building and many families in the area.
Water Crisis Hits the Elderly Hard
These residents have been facing serious difficulties accessing potable water for several months. Most are elderly, many retired and bedridden, and they are not receiving the water service in their homes, causing severe disruptions in their daily lives.
However, in many cases, the elderly manage to resolve some of their problems thanks to the solidarity of activists and the help of family members.
One grandmother in Cuba couldn't hold back her tears when she received a fan, a gift from her granddaughter living in Houston, who shared the moment on social media.