Cuba's worsening economic crisis is severely impacting families across the island, driving them toward hunger and dependence on external aid and the black market. One mother in Havana shared the agonizing reality of sometimes having no lunch available for herself and her young daughters.

Daily Hardships in Havana

Yuneisy Riviaux, a 42-year-old unemployed mother of two, lives in a crowded Havana home where the second floor collapsed years ago. She described the escalating severity of their situation, stating, “Things have been going very, very badly for me.”

Riviaux recounted moments of profound difficulty, admitting, “But other times I can’t — like right now, when I have to bite my lip and swallow my tears because I don’t have lunch for the girls.” These struggles are compounded by fuel shortages, persistent blackouts, and cuts to the state-provided food ration system.

A Family's Morning Routine

The family's day often begins with meager provisions. Her husband, 61-year-old Cristóbal Estrada, managed to prepare breakfast for their 7-year-old daughter, Edianet: a single piece of rationed bread with a small amount of butter, a luxury provided by a tourist.

After taking Edianet to school, Estrada embarked on a difficult journey to Cotorro, 12 miles away, seeking food and money promised by relatives. Riviaux explained the challenge: “He has to see if he can find a ride, a bus or whatever it takes to get there.”

Impact of Fuel Shortages and Embargo

Public transportation has been largely paralyzed due to severe gasoline shortages. These shortages stem from the ongoing U.S. oil embargo on the island, which has been exacerbated by the cessation of shipments from a key oil supplier.

These resource scarcities have crippled essential services, including hospitals, and have caused soaring prices and widespread food deficits. While a recent oil delivery provided diesel for only about nine or ten days of the island's needs, the underlying crisis continues to roil the Cuban population.

Loss of Livelihood and Medical Costs

Riviaux and Estrada previously operated a small stall selling packaged foods and powdered drinks. However, their income source vanished when Estrada fell ill in February with a collapsed lung and required hospitalization.

The cost of his treatment was ruinous, forcing the couple to deplete their savings to purchase medicine on the black market, as state pharmacies were empty. Now, Riviaux sells sweet pastries baked by her sister, contingent on securing flour outside the official rations.

Deterioration of Public Health Services

Cuba’s healthcare system has deteriorated to the point where it struggles to deliver basic care. Local authorities and the United Nations report that approximately 96,000 surgeries are pending, including 11,000 for children.

Furthermore, nearly 5 million people with chronic illnesses lack essential medications. Life-saving procedures, such as dialysis for 2,800 patients and radiation treatments for 16,000 cancer patients, have been suspended.

International Aid Response

The United Nations has initiated a $94 million emergency plan to address what it termed a “life-threatening” crisis in Cuba. Francisco Pichón, the U.N. resident coordinator in Cuba, noted that this appeal is critical, as Cuba previously led Latin America in maternal health and vaccination rates—successes now gravely endangered.

A Glimmer of Hope and Lingering Fear

By midday, Estrada had not returned, forcing Riviaux to give her 2-year-old daughter, Seinet, a piece of bread and the last of their donated milk from Mexico. Riviaux herself went without food, though her older daughter received a free lunch at school.

Riviaux recalled the pre-COVID era nostalgically, stating, “Cuba had everything.” The ration book then included milk daily for children, meat, and about 30 hygiene and food items, supplementing what could be bought in private stores using U.S. dollar-pegged currency.

Stricter U.S. sanctions, the pandemic's impact on tourism, and internal policy failures have caused a deep recession, shrinking Cuba’s GDP by 15% in six years. This has triggered a historic exodus, with over 1 million inhabitants leaving in 2024 alone.

Riviaux expressed deep unease regarding escalating rhetoric from the U.S., asking, “What will happen if the U.S. gets involved?” Her husband returned late that afternoon, bringing plantains, chicken, and enough cash to buy a kilo of rice from a neighbor, offering a small reprieve in an uncertain period.