Hundreds of Thousands in Cuba Without Water – Reuters

Water Shortages Spark Discontent in Cuba

HAVANA – Water shortages in Cuba are causing growing frustration among residents, particularly in the capital, Havana. Many are already facing challenges due to shortages of food, fuel, and electricity.

Officials have reported that over 600,000 people—more than 5% of the island’s population of 10 million—are affected by water supply issues. Havana is experiencing the most severe shortages, while many of the country’s largest cities report at least 30,000 customers without water.

Authorities attribute the escalating crises to deteriorating infrastructure and a consistent lack of fuel, both symptoms of a deepening economic crisis that has severely hindered growth and left the country in dire financial straits.

Rachel Trimiño, a 32-year-old resident of the relatively affluent Vedado neighborhood in Havana, expresses that the underlying issues are clear. "All of the streets are full of leaking pipes, clean running water … but nothing in our homes," she lamented.

Resolving these problems is no simple task. According to officials, spare parts for the aging water infrastructure, such as pipes and pumps, are scarce. Additionally, limited fuel and transportation resources have hampered emergency water delivery by cistern trucks, as reported by local residents. Frequent power outages exacerbate the situation.

"When they cut off power, we can’t give water," said Pedro Martino, a resident of San Miguel de Padron who volunteers with a church group providing small quantities of water to residents. "One thing depends on the other, and that’s the game we play," he explained.

Amid the rising pressures, isolated protests have occurred as residents, overwhelmed by the myriad of issues and shortages, express their impatience during the sweltering summer heat.

Cuba’s economy has suffered significantly due to a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, intensified U.S. sanctions, and a state-controlled business model hindered by bureaucracy, mismanagement, and corruption. This social and economic crisis is viewed as one of the worst since Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959, resulting in unprecedented emigration of Cuban migrants over the past two years.