Garbage everywhere in Havana

Five days after the passing of Hurricane Irma, which only touched the Cuban capital with tropical storm winds, there is an accumulation of rotting food and garbage one the streets that already torment its inhabitants.

There is garbage in most every corner as the garbage collectors dedicated to this task have prioritized avenues and streets where there is more traffic, especially near hospitals. But after several days of blackout and the rotting food in almost all the houses because of the lack of electricity (that has been thrown away), the city begins to stink … in some neighborhoods more than in others.

“Have you been to Buena Vista? There are rubbish heaps that cover the façade of the houses,” says a mechanic on the corner of 31st Avenue. I do not know if he exaggerates, but in the neighborhood he mentions there is a lot, a lot of garbage still.

“They say they do not have cars, and no men. Well… you know. I’m not sure if they’re trying to justify their situation,” complains a man sitting at the doors of a polyclinic.

There have already been several calls to the neighbors to help, to sweep and clean the entrances to their houses, the streets where they live. And they have done so in many places, as can be appreciated by the garbage carefully accumulated in the corners, but they have done what they’ve been able to. “People do not have trucks, clippers, or large containers, they do what they can, but it’s not their job,” says a friend.

This is how some neighborhoods in Havana looked on Thursday morning . Hopefully and with everyone’s effort these scenarios will soon become clean.

[All photos by Rachel D. Rojas.]