A crisis that hits all sectors of society

The lack of food in Cuba has caused an alarming increase in malnutrition in the population, according to testimonies collected by Martí News. Although the government informs of efforts to minimize the crisis and promote initiatives to improve Food productionthe reality that thousands of Cubans face daily reflects a completely different panorama.

Yasser Sosa, leader of a social project to feed people in need in Santiago de Cuba, points out that «the most affected are the elderly and children.»

However, he clarifies, «those who remain in the middle also suffer wear.»

The problem is not limited only to the most vulnerable sectors, but even affects those who have employment. “We are talking about people who work and charge the minimum wage (set at 2,100 pesos in national currency), while an oil bottle costs 950 pesos. Only a small percentage of the population receives remittances or has a stable economic entry, ”added Sosa.

The activist Michael Valladares, a resident in San Juan and Martínez, in Pinar del Río, also warned of the impact of malnutrition on his community.

“People are getting thinner. Here high school children seem primary children, ”he said.

The situation is similar in Havana, where Marlene Aguilar, resident in San Miguel del Padrón, has noticed a worrying phenomenon: “More and more children are seen asking for food in the cafes. They don’t ask for money, just something to eat. ”

These testimonies coincide with the findings of the report «The State of Social Rights in Cuba», published in July 2024 by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights. According to the study, 89% of the population in Cuba lives in extreme poverty, an increase in a percentage point compared to the previous year.

However, in October 2024, during his participation in the World Food Forum, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said they tried to increase «productive capabilities.»

Along the same lines, the Granma official newspaper announced in February that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) would support the increase in food production in Cuba. According to the publication, with a financing of 9.3 million dollars and a term of five years, 7,000 hectares of agricultural land and 600 hectares of forests will be restored.

Food scarcity and the deterioration of the population’s diet have had a direct impact on citizens’ health, the opposition doctor Eduardo Cardet explained from Holguin, who warned about the serious consequences of malnutrition and the lack of government response.

“Malnutrition is associated with a delay in psychomotor development when it occurs at an early age. In the elderly, lack of proteins affects cell regeneration and bone system, increasing the risk of spontaneous fractures, ”he explained.

In addition, he noted that a nutrient deficit causes low physical performance and a weakened immune system, which makes people more likely to get sick.

«The recognition of this serious problem should lead to immediate actions, such as guaranteeing adequate food to the population, but that is where the big problem is,» Cardet concluded.