In Santiago de Cuba, many devout Catholics are expressing that 2024 stands out as one of the most challenging years in recent memory. The backdrop of this sentiment is a landscape marked by economic turmoil, persistent power outages, and widespread social dissatisfaction.
"Lord, I ask you to remove all that is bad, the hunger, the misery, and the needs we are currently enduring. I hope that next year will be better, and I can hold on to the good, the faith, and the hope that one day things will improve. Take away all that is bad," voiced a woman in a heartfelt video shared on Facebook by Father Leandro NaunHung, a Catholic priest.
Daily Struggles in Rural Communities
In another part of the video, a resident of Oasis, a community in Baconao, lamented being covered in soot because she is forced to cook with wood due to the ongoing scarcity of liquefied gas.
Other accounts highlighted the escalating insecurity faced by those in rural Santiago, where thefts of crops and livestock are increasingly common, further exacerbating already dire living conditions.
Scarcity and Hardships
"It’s been two months, Father, since we've had water here. Look at my clothes piled up because there's no water to wash them," said a mother, who also demonstrated some of the measures she has to take with her children to get some rest at night, given the relentless blackouts.
"There's no food in the store. No rice, no sugar, nothing. We are eating fongo," she stated, illustrating the neglect they suffer due to the regime's inaction.
Community's Resilience and Hope
Additional testimonies captured in the video shared by Father NaunHung, who often gives voice to the community's struggles, reveal the exhaustion of a populace battling not only shortages of food and medicine but also mounting uncertainty about the future.
"This year has been incredibly tough with all the needs and illnesses. By faith, a disciple of Christ must learn to embrace with love all these difficult and adverse realities we face daily," remarked a parishioner before casting a calendar into the water, symbolically bidding farewell to a bleak 2024, with hopes for a brighter 2025.