Story
Protests Erupt in Havana Amid Widespread Power Outages Across Cuba
Summary
Residents in several Havana neighborhoods protested on Tuesday evening following a nationwide blackout, the third this year. The power failure is attributed to a severe fuel shortage exacerbated by a U.S. blockade.
Scattered protests took place in Havana on Tuesday evening, with residents banging pots, honking horns, and chanting for electricity to be restored as parts of Cuba remained without power following a nationwide grid failure.
The outage, which began on Monday, was the third national blackout to hit the island this year. While Cuba's grid operator, UNE, reported that it had reconnected service from Pinar del Rio in the west to Holguin in the east, it confirmed that Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, remained offline. Officials attribute the ongoing issues to a lack of sufficient fuel to power the grid.
The fuel scarcity is linked to a six-month-long U.S. fuel blockade and additional sanctions. The U.S. has stated its policy is aimed at pressuring the Cuban government for democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners. Both Cuba and the United Nations have described the U.S. sanctions as a violation of international law and the human rights of Cuban residents.
AdIn outlying Havana neighborhoods like Jaimanitas and Santa Fe, hundreds of residents took to the streets, while others sat on sidewalks during the hot night, waiting for power to return. Many citizens have grown accustomed to extended blackouts. "I don’t see a quick fix to this problem," said resident Amauri Gonzalez. "Our power plants are obsolete and there’s no fuel."
At a United Nations debate on Tuesday, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, blamed the Cuban government for the electricity shortfalls. However, the majority of countries that spoke during the session called on the United States to end the blockade and sanctions that have severely impacted the island's economy.