English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Spanish airlines Iberia and Air Europa announce technical stops to refuel in the Dominican Republic 14ymedio, Havana, February 9, 2026 – The Canadian airline Air Canada suspended its flights to Cuba this Monday due to the country’s critical shortage of jet fuel. In a statement, the company said the measure will directly affect around 3,000 … Continue reading “Air Canada Cancels Its Flights to Cuba Due to Fuel Shortages”
In a statement allegedly from the Presidency that went viral on social media, it was said that these measures were being adopted “in light of the escalation of hostile actions by the United States” 14ymedio, Havana, January 12, 2026 — The Government denied this Sunday rumors about the suspension of all labor and social activities … Continue reading “Amid the Fuel Shortage, Cuba Denies Suspension of Activities”
“The few that are operational will not be able to carry out all of the planned trips,” authorities say. 14ymedio, Havana, 7 January 2025 — Almost all GAZelle minibuses operating in Havana are currently out of service due to a lack of fuel. This was announced on Wednesday by local authorities in a Facebook post, … Continue reading “Havana Is Without Its GAZelle Minibuses Due to Fuel Shortage”
14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 16 April 2023 – ’Up La Rampa and down La Rampa!’ was the slogan used by all the people who flocked to Calle 23 in El Vedado, Havana at the weekends in order to get to or from the Malecón sea wall, or a cinema or the queue for the … Continue reading “The Fuel Shortage Leaves Havana’s La Rampa Deserted — No Cars, No People”
14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 27 May 2022 — A new fuel crisis looms over the country, judging by the long lines at numerous gas stations that Havana woke up to this Friday. In the Cupet station at San Rafael and Infanta, a line of vehicles that occupied a block and a half was waiting … Continue reading “Once Again, Long Lines at Gas Stations and Fuel Shortages in Cuba”
14ymedio, Bertha K. Guillen, Candelaria, June 10, 2019 — The highway connecting Candelaria with Soroa, a town in Artemisa province, is filled with pedestrians. Every day, hundreds of women with children on their backs, self-employed merchants carrying their wares and state-sector workers walk a stretch of road on which public transport is increasingly absent. “We’re … Continue reading “Fuel Shortage In Artemisa Leaves No Option Than to Go by Foot”
More than 250 workers have been hired, including brigades from two MSMEs from Morón and Trinidad 14ymedio, Havana, 10 July 2024 — After Manuel Marrero’s visit at the end of June, the Zaza de Sancti Spíritus hotel underwent a marathon to restore it before the July 26 celebrations, whose main act will be held in … Continue reading “Remodeled for July 26 Celebrations, the Zaza Hotel Has No Shortage of Workers or Fuel”
14ymedio, Havana, 25 October 2022 — Bread didn’t reach the tables of Cuban families in several municipalities in the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín last week. The lack of flour and fuel prevented companies from accomplishing the production needed to guarantee supplies. In Guantánamo, the director of the Food Industry, Albis Hernández Díaz, recognized that … Continue reading “Bread Making is Slowed Down by a Shortage of Flour and Fuel”
14ymedio, Madrid, 28 March 2022 — The Cuba-Petroleum Union (Cupet) justified this Saturday the shortage of gasoline and diesel by the 20% increase in consumption in March compared to January and February. The statement from the state monopoly adds that the demand grew up to 65% last week, which led the authorities to ration fuel … Continue reading “Cuba’s State Fuel Company Attributes the Shortage to a 65 Percent Increase in Demand”
The organization is promoting a transition to renewable energy sources to reduce “dependence” on hydrocarbons. 14ymedio / EFE, São Paulo, March 3, 2026 – The impact of the fuel crisis in Cuba is already being felt in its agricultural sector and the effect is “serious,” warned EFE in an interview with the regional representative of … Continue reading “The FAO Warns of the ‘Serious’ Effect of Cuba’s Fuel Crisis on Agriculture”
The meeting scheduled with Pope Leo XIV will not take place because of the risk of being unable to return to the Island 14ymedio, Havana, February 10, 2026 – The Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops has canceled the trip to the Vatican it had announced for February 16, due to the possible mass cancellation of … Continue reading “Cuban Bishops Cancel Their Trip to the Vatican Due to a Lack of Jet Fuel for Airplanes”
Gasoline is rationed and sold only in dollars; public transportation is drastically reduced, and food prices are rising. 14ymedio, Havana, Darío Hernández, February 7, 2026 – Empty bus stops are seen across much of Havana, a city that is nearly paralyzed. In Regla and Guanabacoa, where until recently route A29 connected both municipalities, not a … Continue reading “Cuba Grinds to a Halt Under New Government Measures to Address the Fuel Crisis”
Reporters from 14ymedio and users confirm widespread shortages in Havana and Matanzas 14ymedio, Havana / Matanzas, Olea Gallardo / Pablo Padilla Cruz, January 30, 2026 – “They’re all false, the capital is paralyzed.” Comments like this are how users in groups dedicated to gasoline sales in Havana responded to the this Thursday about a false … Continue reading “Cuba’s Oil Union ‘Cupet’ Labels as ‘False’ a Statement Announcing the Suspension of Fuel Sales to the Public”
The official press says machete workers will receive 700 pesos per ton and their income could reach 22,000 pesos a month 14ymedio, Havana, January 25, 2026 – Day Zero has arrived. The machines will not cut the cane at the Enidio Díaz Machado mill in Campechuela (Granma province), and if the goal of producing more … Continue reading “Lack of Fuel Forces a Return to Manual Sugarcane Cutting in Campechuela, Cuba”
Even refilling a lighter has become a difficult task in Cuba due to the fuel shortage 14ymedio, Havana/Holguín, Darío Hernández and Miguel García, January 11, 2026 — Under the uneven shade of a tree in a park in Holguín, Genaro waits for someone to approach with a lighter. The scene has repeated itself for more … Continue reading “In Havana, Most Gas Stations Are No Longer Dispensing Fuel”