Cuban Families Turn to U.S. Relatives Amid Economic Crisis

Months into the oil blockade imposed by President Trump, many Cubans are increasingly relying on help from relatives in the United States for their daily needs.

South Floridians are actively shipping boxes filled with essentials such as canned meats, rice, beans, and other staples to their hungry family members. In addition to food, they are sending mosquito nets, flashlights, fans, and loosefitting nightgowns to help them cope with sweltering nights. Some individuals employ off-the-books couriers known as “mulas,” or mules, who fly to Cuba delivering goods and sometimes cash.

Jorge Smith, 64, moved from Cuba to Miami four years ago. He is currently looking for a stronger solar-powered generator for his daughter and her 5-year-old son in Havana. With grid electricity available for only two hours a day, the 60-watt generator he had previously bought for them is no longer adequate.

“They only have two hours grid power a day,”

said Mr. Smith, an Uber driver in Miami, where living costs have become steep. Although opposed to the Cuban government, Mr. Smith disagrees with the blockade.

“By cutting off the oil, they cut off the life of the people,”

he explained, pointing out that it is the citizens who bear the brunt.

Cubans have been relying on their relatives in the United States for a long time. Today, these relatives can use informal couriers, Miami-based shipping companies, and online shopping platforms to arrange deliveries.