The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba is worsening, plunging the population into a state of growing despair due to persistent power outages. With the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant out of commission and a national electrical grid in disarray, countless Cuban families are enduring frequent and lengthy daily blackouts, disrupting not only their daily routines but also impacting their physical and emotional well-being.
The absence of electricity affects everything from food refrigeration to accessing essential services like drinking water. "We are getting used to living in darkness, and that's the saddest part," remarked a resident of Santiago on the Cuban Electric Union's (UNE) social media this Monday, as disruptions surged to 1,370 MW.
Public Outcry on Social Media
Social media platforms have become flooded with complaints and pleas from citizens who demand an urgent solution while also criticizing the authorities' lack of transparency and inefficacy in addressing a crisis that seems never-ending. "Living like this is chaotic; you can't plan anything," another user commented, describing how power outages are affecting remote work and their family's well-being, especially when essential goods are already scarce.
"How long must we endure this nightmare? Living in Cuba is impossible now," expressed another user, conveying total despair over a situation that appears to worsen with time. "Every day is suffering. The kids can't sleep, there's no light, no water, nothing," protested a mother, highlighting the emotional and physical toll on the most vulnerable, such as children and the elderly.
Cuban Government Criticized
"The government only gives us excuses, not solutions. Every day we live worse," lamented others, questioning the usefulness of having thermoelectric plants if none are operational. "The situation is critical, and there's no sign of improvement," they protested.
"In my home, the power outages last over 12 hours. I can't even use a fan in this unbearable heat," said one Cuban, while another pleaded, "My mother is ill and needs oxygen, but without electricity, using the concentrator is impossible." These stories underscore how the power outages endanger lives, especially those with delicate health conditions.
Lack of a Reliable Schedule
"Before, it was a few hours a day, but now we don't even know when we'll have power," echoed a Cuban, reflecting on the uncertainty caused by the absence of a reliable blackout schedule, which generates constant anxiety among the population.
"It's the 21st century, and we still can't have stable electricity. It's a total disgrace," lamented another user, calling for modernization and criticizing the country's backwardness in such a crucial area as electrical energy.
"Our right to live is fading away," summarized a Cuban woman, like millions, who sees life slipping further into deprivation and hardship, akin to a slow-motion genocide.