The havoc wreaked by Hurricane Rafael across several municipalities in western Cuba has starkly exposed the frailty of the infrastructure and the lack of governmental support in many of the affected areas, according to citizen complaints on social media. Among those raising their voices is Maydelin Soroa, a Cuban mother living in Candelaria, Artemisa. She took to Facebook to share a heartfelt message about the dire conditions her community faces in the wake of the storm and the apparent neglect by the authorities.
In her post, Soroa described how, even days after the disaster, her community is still without basic services such as electricity, clean water, and food supplies. “That is my son's house in Candelaria, and believe me, there are others in worse shape,” she wrote. Soroa asserted that no official has come to assess the damage or offer any form of assistance, leaving families to fend for themselves and exposing their vulnerability.
“They have no power, no water, and no food; this was never seen in Cuba. It's too much incompetence and a severe lack of humanism,” she stressed in her message. Besides highlighting the material hardships, Soroa called on the Cuban people to awaken to the critical situation the country is facing, questioning the silence surrounding it. “How long will we remain silent?” she asked, sharply criticizing President Miguel Díaz-Canel, whom she deemed “too small” to handle the country's challenges.
Growing Discontent with Leadership
Soroa emphasized the insensitivity of the leaders and the abandonment of solidarity and humanitarian values that once defined Cuban society. “In Cuba, there is no sense of belonging nor true leaders, only clowns and incompetent puppets who do nothing for the country or its people. Their only priority is self-enrichment,” she declared, echoing the growing social unrest and disappointment of many Cubans who believe the administration prioritizes its image and political control over the people's welfare.
She also questioned the fate of international donations sent to Cuba in response to the emergency caused by Hurricane Rafael. “Mexico donates, and the USA does too, so where are they? Because the cyclone victims haven't received anything, not even a greeting,” she added, expressing a widespread frustration among Cubans who feel the government never properly manages humanitarian aid.
Systemic Challenges Beyond Natural Disasters
The situation Soroa describes highlights issues that extend beyond her community, revealing the challenges of a system that, according to critics, prioritizes its image and political control above the well-being of its citizens. Coincidentally, Díaz-Canel visited Artemisa on Wednesday, outlining "strategic tasks" for sanitation, electricity, and water. "We're moving forward, because we will move forward," he declared, surrounded by populist slogans. "Count on Consejo Popular Pueblo Nuevo because there is Artemisa blood," shouted the delegate in a state of excitement. A week after Hurricane Rafael struck, 87.09% of Artemisa province still lacks electricity, meaning only 26,384 customers—12.91%—have service.
Rafael also left a deep crisis in the health sector, with 119 centers affected across 11 municipalities, while 48 sports facilities suffered severe damage as well.