Cuba

Cuba Ration Lines Grow Tense as Economy Flails

6/21/19
from The Wall Street Journal,
6/21/19:

On island hit by U.S. sanctions and Venezuela downturn, Cubans flash back to post-Soviet hardships.

Pushed by the implosion of top ally Venezuela and sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, Cuba has driven into an economic ditch. The government has tightened state rations. Residents stand in lines for hours to buy scarce basic goods such as eggs, flour and chicken.

For many Cubans, ration lines and ostrich farms recall the grim “Special Period” in the 1990s after the collapse of its benefactor, the Soviet Union. As the Communist-run island endured near famine conditions, residents devoured cats and fried “steaks” made of breaded grapefruit rind.

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