Cubans Face Hunger as State Ration Books Shrink and Shelves Go Bare

Ration books that once guaranteed basic foods are shrinking as Cuba’s economy worsens and prices soar, leaving state stores depleted of staples like milk, yogurt, and soap. With many goods now sold in U.S. dollars and wages unable to cover rising costs, families rely on private shops and remittances to survive. The system, rooted in the 1960s and strained since the 1990s Special Period, can no longer feed most households, pushing people to cut meals and rely on scarce alternatives.