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.