Cuba is facing one of the gravest economic and humanitarian crises in the island nation’s modern history. Millions of residents are struggling with prolonged blackouts, food shortages, scarce medicine and a collapsing public-service system.
Much of the island receives only a few hours of electricity each day. Without reliable power, water cannot be pumped into apartment buildings, food spoils and hospitals struggle to operate. The Cuban peso has sharply declined in value, while transportation costs and prices for basic goods have climbed beyond the reach of many families.
Cuba’s communist government blames decades of U.S. sanctions and a recently intensified American campaign to block fuel shipments. The Trump administration says Cuba’s economic system and authoritarian government are responsible for the suffering, pointing to harsh punishments including imprisonment for political opposition and free expression…