Cubans Struggle to Afford Basic Goods Amid Economic Crisis and Shortages

Cuba's government ration system once fed citizens items like meat, milk, and beer, but availability has dropped amid economic crisis
Basic goods are now scarce and expensive, with incomes around $20 per month and milk costing up to $8 per kilo
Recent protests erupted over shortages of food and lengthy power outages
Cuba blames COVID-19, U.S. sanctions, and macroeconomic changes for the crisis
Experts say low productivity and high inflation have kept wages extremely low, around $20 per month, exacerbating struggles