Havana [Cuba], September 10 – Cuba’s worsening economic and energy crisis is taking a heavy psychological toll on people across the island with power and water shortages, fuel scarcity, deteriorating homes and limited public services leaving many struggling to cope.
Daily blackouts now last more than 24 hours in some areas while prolonged water shortages have become increasingly common. The US Embassy has warned of deteriorating water and energy infrastructure and a rise in gastrointestinal illnesses including cases linked to E. coli, norovirus and Shigella.
Primary care physician Dr. Yomeidis Felicó Riverón said patients increasingly come to her simply to cry and talk about their problems because they have few other outlets.
Families are also struggling to shield children from the crisis. At a free workshop in Havana, children learned to make gift bags and perfume while parents briefly escaped the pressures of daily life.
Cuba’s government has blamed longstanding U.S. sanctions for worsening economic difficulties. Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez said U.S. economic measures between March 2025 and February had cost the country more than $8 billion.
Despite the hardships, many Cubans say family remains their main source of strength as they struggle to survive.
