On the 5th local time, a man pushes a box in Havana, the capital of Cuba. AP Yonhap News

In Cuba, which is struggling with power shortages and inflation, there were more than 1,100 anti-government protests and expressions of discontent last month.

According to the monthly report by the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC), obtained by the Spanish-language outlet Infobae and reported on the 5th local time, a total of 1,133 protests, denunciations, and expressions of discontent against the government took place across Cuba in April. The figure includes not only street demonstrations but also criticism posted on social media and reports to the authorities. The economic crisis and shortages of goods and fuel, along with the resulting rise in food prices, combined with state repression to produce an explosive outpouring of grievances.

Specifically, resistance to the system accounted for 305 cases, or 26.9% of all expressions of discontent, the largest share. Rolando Cartaya, a journalist and researcher with the OCC, explained, “April was effectively a month in which a curfew was in force,” and “With tensions with the United States rising, patrols and repression intensified, and a political campaign was carried out to pressure all Cubans to side with the government.” During the period, 176 cases of repression, including arbitrary arrests and interrogations, were also recorded.

Expressions of discontent over public safety and violence followed, with 185 cases. Up from 85 in March, more than doubling in a month, this is interpreted as reflecting a sharp deterioration in security. According to the report, at least 41 people were killed last month in Cuba in serious crimes such as sexual violence and domestic violence. There were 21 reports of assault nationwide.

Complaints about public services such as power and water outages totaled 153. Cases pointing to rising food prices and inflation numbered 130. In the report, the OCC said that due to food shortages and inflation, 96.9% of Cubans are unable to obtain food, and one in four goes to bed without dinner. Cartaya said, “Scenes are witnessed of people picking food from garbage cans, children knocking on doors to beg for something to eat, and elderly people going hungry for three days straight.” Complaints related to public health, including shortages of medicines, were also counted at 61.

Cuba is undergoing its worst-ever energy crisis as the administration of United States President Donald Trump mounts all-out pressure. In January, President Trump completely blocked supplies of Venezuelan crude and also signed an executive order allowing tariffs to be imposed on countries that trade oil with Cuba. As Cuban authorities implement emergency measures in response to the energy shortage, essential urban functions are reportedly being paralyzed, with shortened hours for schools, public transportation, and banks.