Now Reading: Blackouts drive Cubans to rooftops and Malecon for sleep
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Blackouts drive Cubans to rooftops and Malecon for sleep
Every night across Havana, blackouts and summer heat force Cubans to sleep on rooftops, porches, and public spaces. On the Malecon seawall, dozens lie on concrete, using cardboard or mattresses, while the…
The Story in Brief
Every night across Havana, blackouts and summer heat force Cubans to sleep on rooftops, porches, and public spaces. On the Malecon seawall, dozens lie on concrete, using cardboard or mattresses, while the city glows faintly under generator purrs and barking dogs. Alexis Milan, 59, shares a rooftop with his blind son and neighbours on top of an empty water tank. He says he sees no end. Power and water cuts have worsened since January due to a tightened US fuel embargo, according to residents.
The Indian Opinion
The story frames Cuba's blackouts as entirely the US fuel embargo's doing, but that skips deeper problems: Cuba's decrepit power grid and chronic mismanagement predate the embargo's latest tightening. Ordinary Cubans, as always, bear the brunt. A more honest narrative would ask why Havana's government has failed to invest in renewables or basic grid maintenance for decades. Watch for this: if the embargo is lifted, will blackouts actually end, or will another scapegoat emerge?
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
