President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba directly attributed the nation's severe economic crisis and deteriorating public services to United States sanctions during a national address on Sunday.
Speaking at the July 26 ceremony in Pinar del Río, Díaz-Canel detailed widespread disruptions affecting daily life, including blackouts lasting more than 24 hours, industrial shutdowns, and critical shortages of medicines.
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Healthcare Crisis Deepens
According to official figures disclosed in the speech, the healthcare system is under immense strain.
Over 100,000 surgeries remain unperformed, and 118,000 cancer patients have been forced to rely on secondary or tertiary treatment options.
Infant mortality has risen to 9.3 per 1,000 live births, a significant increase that underscores the severity of the crisis.
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Díaz-Canel framed the ongoing hardship as a persistent struggle against Washington's policies, comparing the current economic condition to the historical 1953 Moncada assault, a key event in Cuba's revolutionary history.
The president highlighted government efforts toward macroeconomic stabilization, agricultural incentives, and new management models as part of the response to the crisis.
He also appealed to international allies, social movements, and foreign organizations for continued support and aid to help the island cope with the sanctions.
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During the event, an unexpected outburst occurred when a local resident in the audience shouted a non-scripted slogan supporting the region, departing from the official proceedings and drawing laughter from attendees, as reported by Havana Times and 14ymedio.
