This archive report was first published on 12 July 2021.
On Sunday, Cuba witnessed unprecedented protests across the country, with citizens expressing their frustration over the dire living conditions. The demonstrations were sparked by the severe shortages of basic necessities, including food, medicine, and electricity.
According to Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Cuban government's stance on the American trade embargo is a key factor in the country's struggles. He urged the international community to suspend the blockade, calling it a 'truly humanitarian gesture.'
However, some Cuban activists in the United States, including those who oppose the embargo, disputed this narrative. Ramón Saúl Sánchez, president of the Movimiento Democracia advocacy group in Miami, stated that the embargo does allow Cuba to buy food from the United States, contradicting the notion that it is the sole cause of the country's problems.
Longtime Cuba analysts were stunned by the size of the protests, which reflect the dire situation in the country. The pandemic has severely impacted Cuba's economy, with the loss of vital tourism revenue and strain on the health system. The prices of basic food staples have skyrocketed, and the electricity grid is faltering.
Anthropologist Katrin Hansing, who spent much of the past year researching in Havana, described the situation as 'tremendously dire.' She noted that supermarkets only accept dollars and that there are long lines to get in, while medicine is also in short supply.
On social media, videos of protesters decrying the lack of electricity and basic supplies circulated widely. Sara Naranjo, a protester, shared a video stating, 'I took to the streets because I'm tired of being hungry. I don't have water, I don't have anything. You get bored, you get tired, we are going crazy.'
