
{"id":333780,"date":"2026-01-17T10:22:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=333780"},"modified":"2026-02-11T11:50:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:50:18","slug":"cuba-from-one-very-difficult-year-to-another","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/cuba-from-one-very-difficult-year-to-another\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba, from one very difficult year to another"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The\u00a0very difficult\u00a0year of 2025 is now behind us, and 2026 is slowly beginning. Despite the many shortages and difficulties, Cubans on the island once again put their resilience and willpower to the\u00a0test, and\u00a0tried to have the best possible New Year\u2019s Eve, hoping for future improvement. But the change of year has not exactly brought good news.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If the past year was\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/cuba\/cuba-en-2025-de-la-agudizacion-de-la-crisis-y-otros-demonios\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">a very difficult period<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f\u2014\u00a0even more so than 2024\u00a0\u2014\u00a0marked by a worsening of the economic and energy crisis, government measures and plans that have so far failed, and increased pressure from Washington after Donald Trump\u2019s return to the White House, the year that is beginning does not look good at all. At least, judging by its first 10 days.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trabjo-en-derrumbe_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"A man works on a building that suffered a collapse in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man works on a building that suffered a collapse in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_8jpg.jpg\" alt=\"A mobile charcoal oven on a street in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A mobile charcoal oven on a street in Havana. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The U.S.\u00a0attack on\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Venezuela<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fand the capture of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro by U.S.\u00a0forces\u00a0\u2014\u00a0in an operation in which, moreover, 32 Cubans lost their lives\u00a0\u2014\u00a0has only multiplied the uncertainty in Cuba\u00a0regarding\u00a0the coming months.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The strategic relationship between Havana and Caracas is going through a complicated period. Given\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/mundo\/administracion-trump-exige-a-venezuela-cortar-con-cuba-y-otros-aliados-para-reactivar-el-petroleo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">the strong demands of the Trump administration<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0on the post-Maduro Chavista government and the close ties built over decades between the two countries, it remains to be seen how these relations will be reconfigured in practice beyond government statements and political speeches.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_3.jpg\" alt=\"A man walks past a closed store in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man walks past a closed store in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_17jpg.jpg\" alt=\"A man looks for money to buy food at a private cafeteria in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man looks for money to buy food at a private cafeteria in Havana. Photo: Otmaro Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #333333; font-size: 15px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Otherwise, daily life offers no shortage of challenges. Even with a reduction in official figures, the dengue and chikungunya epidemic continues to plague Cubans, as do power outages, inflation, fuel\u00a0shortages\u00a0and the\u00a0\u201cstruggle\u201d\u00a0for survival that defines daily life on the island. In this sense, the year 2026\u00a0has begun\u00a0just as 2025 ended: without respite or romanticism.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This Sunday, photojournalist\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/author\/otmarorodriguez1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0brings us closer to this harsh daily reality that has unfolded with the turn of the year, through his snapshots. His images are a portrait of what recently was\u00a0and also\u00a0of what is happening right now on the streets of Havana, at the very beginning of another year that is also expected to be difficult and challenging for the largest of the\u00a0Caribbean islands.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Comunicacion_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"A young man walks past a Cuban flag inside a building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A young man walks past a Cuban flag inside a building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mipymes_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"People queue in front of private food establishments. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People queue in front of private food establishments. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_9jpg.jpg\" alt=\"A young man grills meat on a street in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A young man grills meat on a street in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_18jpg.jpg\" alt=\"A shoeshine\u00a0stand\u00a0in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A shoeshine\u00a0stand\u00a0in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_13jpg.jpg\" alt=\"An elderly woman cleans the inner courtyard of a building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An elderly woman cleans the inner courtyard of a building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Transporte_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"A bicycle taxi driver\u00a0observes\u00a0potential customers in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bicycle taxi driver\u00a0observes\u00a0potential customers in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_14jpg.jpg\" alt=\"A bicycle taxi with Cuban and United States flags and passersby in\u00a0Fraternidad\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bicycle taxi with Cuban and United States flags and passersby in\u00a0Fraternidad\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Parque-de-la-Fraternidad_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"A broken bench in\u00a0Fraternidad\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A broken bench in\u00a0Fraternidad\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_2.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas decorations in a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christmas decorations in a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_10jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas decorations in a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christmas decorations in a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_11jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Musicians at the entrance of a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Musicians at the entrance of a private establishment in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_16jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Street vendor of agricultural products in Havana.\u00a0Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Street vendor of agricultural products in Havana.\u00a0Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_6.jpg\" alt=\"A man transports pots and other objects in an old\u00a0baby carriage. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man transports pots and other objects in an old\u00a0baby carriage. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Navidad_Otma_15jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Accumulation of garbage in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Accumulation of garbage in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Basura_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Accumulation of garbage in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Accumulation of garbage in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cola-de-linea_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"People queue at an\u00a0ETECSA\u00a0office in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People queue at an\u00a0ETECSA\u00a0office in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Feria2_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Sales stall at a fair in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sales stall at a fair in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Combustible_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Fuel\u00a0truck\u00a0and other vehicles near the National Capitol\u00a0building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fuel\u00a0truck\u00a0and other vehicles near the National Capitol\u00a0building in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Balcon_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Sign advertising\u00a0a private business\u00a0in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sign advertising\u00a0a private business\u00a0in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Estudiantes_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Young students in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Young students in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Gente-en-la-calle_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"A man talks to another man who is homeless. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A man talks to another man who is homeless. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tercera-edad_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"An elderly woman arranges her belongings on a bench in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An elderly woman arranges her belongings on a bench in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mercado-Chino_otma_2026.jpg\" alt=\"Market selling Chinese products in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\u00a0\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Market selling Chinese products in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 1140px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Parque-del-Curita_otma-1.jpg\" alt=\"Vendors and buyers of second-hand items in El\u00a0Curita\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.\" width=\"1140\" height=\"815\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vendors and buyers of second-hand items in El\u00a0Curita\u00a0Park, in Havana. Photo:\u00a0Otmaro\u00a0Rodr\u00edguez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0very difficult\u00a0year of 2025 is now behind us, and 2026 is slowly beginning. Despite the many shortages and difficulties, Cubans on the island once again put their resilience and willpower to the\u00a0test, and\u00a0tried to have the best possible New Year\u2019s Eve, hoping for future improvement. But the change of year has not exactly brought good [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3134,"featured_media":333784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13902],"tags":[14816,8863,11662,19256],"ppma_author":[33546],"class_list":["post-333780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba","tag-cuban-economy","tag-cuban-society","tag-cubans","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cuba, from one very difficult year to another | OnCubaNews English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If 2025 was a tough period in Cuba, marked by a worsening of the economic and energy crisis, the year that is beginning does not look good at all.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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