Empty shelves, shrinking ration: Cubans struggle

economy collapse

Havana: For decades, the Cuban ration book, known as “la libreta”, was a symbol of socialist security, ensuring every family had access to milk, fish, and staples. Today, that system is in terminal decline, leaving the population of nearly 10 million to face the worst economic conditions since the 1990s. In central Havana, bodega worker Jose Luis Amate Lopez oversees a near-empty store where free­z­ers once packed with meat now only hold his water bottle. 

The crisis stems from a perfect storm of plummeting domestic production and a lack of government funds to pay for the 80% of food that Cuba imports. Professor William LeoGrande of American University explains that a “bungled” 2021 currency merger and excessive state spending have triggered runaway inflation. Consequently, basic items are increasingly found only in private stores at prices that dwarf local salaries. A resident earning 8,000 Cuban pesos ($16) a month finds that a single carton of eggs can cost 3,000 pesos.

The human cost is stark. Ana Enamorado, 68, descri­bes living on one meal a day, often just rice or cornmeal. For many, survival depends on remittances from relatives abroad; roughly 60% of the population receives such support. Lazaro Cuesta, 56, who earns 6,000 pesos monthly, admits without the $200 sent by family, he could not afford basic nutrition.

However, for those like Rosa Rodriguez, who earns 4,000 pesos ($8) and receives no outside help, the situation is dire. She notes even the state-provided bread has shrunk in size and quality. Amid deepening fuel and medicine crisis, the struggle for daily bread in Cuba has intensified. —AP