Cubans Endure Hardships Amid U.S. Oil Blockade

Months after the oil blockade imposed by President Trump, Cubans increasingly depend on relatives in the United States to meet their basic needs.

South Floridians are actively involved in sending essential items to their families in Cuba. These packages are filled with canned meats, rice, beans, and other staples to alleviate hunger. They also include mosquito nets, flashlights, fans, and loose-fitting nightgowns to help cope with the heat.

The island nation faces severe food shortages, frequent blackouts, and oppressive temperatures. For many Cubans, parcels from relatives in Miami offer a brief reprieve.

To aid their families, some individuals employ off-the-books couriers known as “mulas” or mules. These couriers fly to Cuba carrying goods or American cash in envelopes.

Jorge Smith, 64, who relocated from Cuba to Miami four years ago, is concerned about his daughter and her young child in Havana. He is searching for a more robust solar-powered generator as electricity access becomes increasingly scarce. The 60-watt generator he previously sent is insufficient for their needs.

“They only have two hours of grid power a day,” said Mr. Smith, who works as an Uber driver in Miami. Although he opposes the Cuban government, he criticizes the blockade. “By cutting off the oil, they cut off the life of the people,” he remarked. “It’s the people who suffer.”

Cubans have long relied on their U.S.-based relatives. They use informal couriers, shipping companies in Miami, and shopping sites that facilitate deliveries to the island.