In brief
As Tropical Storm Oscar wreaks havoc on Cuba's eastern coast, the nation grapples with prolonged power outages and severe shortages, putting the Communist government under added pressure.
---The lights flickered back on late Sunday in Lidia Núñez Gómez’s neighborhood in Havana, the first glimmer of electricity since Friday morning. With a hurricane now thrashing the eastern part of the island, Lidia hurriedly turned on her electric cooker to salvage frozen chicken and pork sent from her son in the United States. Food supplies are meager, and as the power situation remains precarious, Lidia, 81, needed to avert spoilage.Her daughter, 61-year-old Nilza Valdés Núñez, bared her frustrations about the ordeal. “It’s been super bad,” she said, choking back tears as she reflected on the relentless power outages and shortages of food and gas. The impact of the crisis has been severe, leading to deep feelings of desperation among many Cubans.Cuba, a nation accustomed to enduring shortages, has now reached a tipping point where conditions threaten to ignite social unrest. With the combination of a natural disaster and the significant failures of the power grid, citizens are feeling increasingly vulnerable and dissatisfied with the Communist government's ability to provide essential services.“The lack of electricity, gas, and all the other problems we have here,” Ms. Valdés said, pausing briefly to gather herself, “make you feel bad.” Whether the government can quell the growing discontent remains uncertain as many Cubans struggle with the basic necessities of life amidst the ongoing crisis.
