Power outages persist in storm-wracked Cuba
The collapse of the electrical grid plunged the entire island of Cuba into darkness on Oct. 18—a situation compounded by Hurricane Oscar two days later. The national blackout, which caused many families to lose most of the little food they had, sparked rare protests amid a broader economic crisis marked by soaring inflation and widespread shortages of medicine, food, and water. Power has now been restored in the capital, Havana, but many rural areas remain in the dark, while schools and workplaces across the country remain closed due to ongoing energy-saving measures.
From The New Humanitarian, Oct. 25
Cuba also saw a protest wave in 2021.
Fluctuations in the price of oil and grain since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022 have contributed to popular privation and unrest worldwide, often augmented by extreme weather events.
Hunger crisis deepens in Cuba
A dramatic drop in rice production due to lack of fuel and fertilizers amid severe economic hardship is deepening the country’s hunger crisis. In 2024, about 80,000 tons of rice (one of Cuba's most consumed foods) was harvested nationally–only 11% of the annual consumption and barely 30% of what Cuba produced in 2018. The situation has forced the country to rely on imports, causing already inflated prices to rise even more. (TNH)