In a stark illustration of Cuba's deepening crisis, a group of citizens was spotted gathering scraps of cassava from the roadside in Santiago de Cuba's Altamira neighborhood. This incident, reported by local journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, is just one of many similar occurrences on the island, where scarcity and harsh living conditions have driven people to desperate measures to secure food.
Not long ago, a distressing video surfaced showing elderly individuals collecting spilt milk powder from a street in Santiago de Cuba. The brief footage, shared by Mayeta on social media, depicted people crouching to gather the powder with their hands, placing it into plastic bags. "It breaks your heart to see our elderly doing this; the hunger and need are so severe that it forces them to," commented one user on the post.
Desperation in the Streets
These incidents are not isolated. In recent months, images have emerged of Cubans, including children, picking up oil, eggs, and other supplies that have accidentally fallen from distribution trucks in various regions of the country. The relentless shortage has left many families without essential goods, compelling them to seize any opportunity, even if it means collecting food from the ground.
The crisis has also sparked feelings of frustration and despair among the populace. During the Santiago de Cuba carnivals, amid reports of violence, individuals were seen taking pieces of public restrooms set up for the event, seemingly to use them in their homes. A video posted by Mayeta captures a man carrying part of a wooden restroom to fix his dwelling.
Scenes of Desperation Across Cuba
In Havana, another disheartening scene unfolded when a group of people picked up rice and beans scattered by a vendor in the Río Verde neighborhood of Boyeros. According to the Facebook page "Con el otro filo," the vendor threw the products on the ground in protest after inspectors and the National Revolutionary Police confiscated them for allegedly exceeding price limits. Rather than showing solidarity, several individuals scrambled to collect the grains amid the island's pervasive desperation.