The Cuban capital, Havana, is experiencing a significant escalation in health risks due to the spread of viral diseases, coinciding with ongoing water and electricity outages and deteriorating infrastructure that serves nearly 2 million residents. The outages, exacerbated by a US-imposed oil embargo in January, have led to increased paralysis in the city's water system. About 90% of Cuba's water infrastructure relies on electric pumps, according to the National Water Resources Institute.
In several Havana neighborhoods, residents are forced to go without running water for days or weeks, severely impacting personal and household hygiene. The Cuban health authorities have warned of the spread of viruses, including a strain of hepatitis, as water and electricity supply disruptions worsen. The US health authorities issued a warning in early September about a "significant increase" in diarrhea cases across Cuba, linking the outbreak to the continued deterioration of water and energy infrastructure.
Regular electricity outages exceeding 24 hours in Havana disrupt food refrigeration and put additional pressure on aging water networks, increasing the risk of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, approximately 3.5 million people, or just under half of the island's population, currently face water shortages. The crisis is particularly severe in impoverished neighborhoods and dilapidated residential buildings.
In one old Havana building, healthcare worker Yoamelika Echevarria reported a surge in diarrhea cases among residents, and she recently suffered from fever and diarrhea herself. The building is home to about 30 families, and Echevarria shares a small, poorly ventilated apartment with her husband and 7-year-old son. A sudden power surge damaged her refrigerator, depriving the family of a means to store food and forcing her to use it for medication, beans, and rice.
Residents are resorting to using dishwashing water for cleaning floors or operating toilets, while soap usage is tied to affordability. Echevarria's husband travels a significant weekly distance with a homemade cart carrying two large barrels to fetch water from a pipe near a local school. When electricity is available, the school's pump pushes water into the pipe, but outages halt the pump, leaving residents with limited water flow.
The crisis in Havana highlights the direct link between weak energy supplies and deteriorating water and sanitation services, increasing health and living pressures on millions of Cubans. The situation underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and reliable services to mitigate the risks of viral diseases and other health concerns.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Cuban government faces mounting challenges in addressing the intertwined issues of energy, water, and healthcare. With a significant portion of the population affected, finding sustainable solutions to these interconnected problems will be crucial in preventing further escalation of the health crisis and improving living conditions for residents in Havana and beyond.
Key points
- 3.5 million Cubans face water shortages
- US-imposed oil embargo exacerbates energy outages
- Viral diseases, including hepatitis, spread amid water and electricity disruptions
