Cubans Face Deepening Crisis with Severe Blackouts and Hyperinflation
Cubans are experiencing a worsening crisis marked by prolonged blackouts, hyperinflation, and acute shortages of essential services such as water, medicine, and food. Residents in Havana face scheduled electricity outages lasting up to 20 hours, while areas outside the capital can be without power for 48 hours or more. This lack of electricity directly impacts water supply, as pumps rely on power, leaving approximately 2.7 million Cubans with aggravated water problems. The economic strain is evident in the inability of residents, like 80-year-old Francisco López, to afford basic necessities with their pensions. The healthcare system is also severely affected, with hospitals lacking fundamental medicines and patients struggling to receive regular treatment. President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the 'very complex' situation but attributed much of the deterioration to U.S. sanctions, rejecting claims of an imminent collapse. 
