Powerless: A Humanitarian Perspective on Cuba’s Energy Crisis

On Friday, October 18th, 2024, the Cuban people found themselves once again in the dark—both literally and figuratively—as a widespread power outage swept through the island. The blackout, which has affected over millions of residents, has highlighted the ongoing struggles Cuba has been facing with energy infrastructure failures. With hospitals operating on limited power, food supplies at risk of spoiling, and families unable to communicate with loved ones, the energy crisis in Cuba has exposed deep vulnerabilities in their public services exacerbating the impact of chronic infrastructure challenges on the everyday lives of Cuban citizens. 

This latest blackout is a symptom of deeper, long-standing issues in Cuba’s infrastructure and economy. For decades, the island has relied on an aging energy grid heavily dependent on imported oil, mainly from Venezuela, leaving it vulnerable to frequent changes. Underinvestment in renewable energy and infrastructure has compounded these issues, while economic constraints, including the U.S. embargo, further limit Cuba’s access to resources and technology. The U.S. embargo, which was placed in 1960, restricts most trade and investments thus hindering Cuba’s ability to modernize its infrastructure and secure reliable resources. Cuba’s centralized economic policies have prioritized sectors like tourism over essential services like energy and health care underfunded. These vulnerabilities have left millions without consistent access to electricity, food, and healthcare, deepening the crisis’ toll on everyday life. 

Cuba’s healthcare system, a source of national pride once now struggles to even provide basic care as power outages leave hospitals operating in limited electricity. This has forced medical facilities to rely on aging, often insufficient backup generators. For patients needing continuous care, such as those on dialysis or respiratory support, this lack of reliable power is life-threatening. Additionally, many of these essential medicines require constant refrigeration, which means that during those extended outages supplies are being placed at risk of spoiling, leaving both patients and medical staff vulnerable. 

The Cuban government regularly sends doctors out overseas as a part of international agreements. They have generated billions of dollars and strengthened diplomatic ties that have exacerbated severe resource shortages on the island.  According to Human Rights Watch, the Cuban government directs much of the revenue generated by these programs—an estimated $7.7 billion in 2018—back to itself, while doctors abroad more often than not face restrictive conditions such as limits on their freedom of movement, expression, and personal relationships. Violations of these rules can result in withheld wages, exile, or imprisonment, leaving Cuba’s healthcare system critically understaffed and under-resourced, which deepens the crisis during emergencies like the recent blackout.

But the healthcare crisis is just one dimension of the broader humanitarian impact of Cuba’s energy shortages. Power outages are also disrupting food refrigeration, intensifying the food security crisis for many families. A report done by the Economic Research Service in the U.S. The Department of Agriculture estimated that around 37.8 percent of the Cuban population, which is around 4.2 million people, are food insecure. The rapid spoilage of perishable items forces residents to rely on scarce non-perishable goods.  Local 10 News stated that bread rations in Cuba have been reduced from 80 grams to 60 grams per day, reflecting the severity of the country’s food shortages. Orlando Gutierrez from the Assembly of Cuban Resistance points that government policies, including collectivized farming and heavy regulations, are key factors that have played a part in devastating agricultural productivity leaving Cuba reliant on imports for nearly all food. 

The reliance on imports, coupled with frequent power outages, has further strained Cuba’s fragile food supply chain. Rural areas, where power restoration is slower, face some of the worst effects. Without refrigeration, families cannot store fresh food safely, increasing the risk of malnutrition and foodborne illnesses. A 2024 study by the NGO Food Monitor Program revealed that 96.27 percent of Cuban households reported significant difficulties in accessing enough food, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis. For many Cubans, securing daily meals has become a relentless challenge. As Le Monde reported, some residents have resorted to urban gardening to fill the gap. Sergio, a civil servant in Havana, grows tomatoes on a small plot of land to supplement his income and food supply, but he and his neighbors must contend with theft, a lack of supplies, and high costs. While this provides temporary relief for a few, most Cubans are left dependent on limited rations, sporadic market availability, or remittances from family members abroad—none of which offer long-term solutions to the worsening food crisis.

This nationwide blackout has forced schools across Cuba to close, halting education for thousands of students. School closures have become a recurring consequence of Cuba’s frequent blackouts, disrupting learning each time the power goes out. This latest outage, however, has dragged on longer than usual due to the failure of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the island’s main power sources. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced an indefinite suspension of classes to conserve energy for residential areas, leaving students without instruction and families struggling to adapt. As blackouts grow longer and more frequent, these interruptions to education are taking a toll. In rural areas, where resources are already scarce, the lack of electricity for classroom tools further widens educational disparities. With no clear timeline for restoration, the current blackout is yet another blow to an overstretched system, jeopardizing the long-term futures of Cuba’s students.

The October 2024 blackout is a stark reminder of the fragility of Cuba’s infrastructure and the profound impact it has on daily life. From hospitals to schools to food supplies, every aspect of daily life has been disrupted, revealing the urgent need for reform. 

Decades of economic mismanagement and reliance on outdated systems have left millions struggling to adapt. While the Cuban people continue to show resilience, meaningful change—through modernized infrastructure and prioritization of essential services—is critical to prevent further hardship.