Cuba Food Insecurity
Fernando Fernández, a 71-year-old retiree, rests beside his wife, Josefa Sánchez, after arriving home with bags of free food he received from the charity-run Quisicuaba Association community kitchen, where he spent the night waiting in line. in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
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Hundreds of people line up each night outside a charity-run food pantry in Havana, hoping for their only meal of the day. Doors open at 7 a.m., and volunteers distribute food according to a carefully organized routine. Many Cubans, including retirees and former professionals, struggle to feed themselves amid a deepening economic crisis worsened by U.S. energy restrictions and inflation. Charity kitchens, supported by religious groups and international aid, have become essential. The economic crisis has left the government unable to provide subsidized food, forcing many to rely on private markets and community support.