Jose de Córdova

Cuba's small businesses have filled a big hole left by the government, which is basically bankrupt and has greatly mismanaged the economy.

They basically have had to step in into areas that the Cuban government has not been able to carry out, especially in importing foods, a lot of the food that Cuba needs and different kinds of goods.

Because of Cuba's fuel shortages, the economy is quickly grinding to a halt.

Hospitals are only doing urgent surgeries.

Tourism has largely stopped and there are widespread shortages of most goods and inflation is out of control, putting a lot of the food out of the reach for many Cubans who don't have remittances that they can depend on from relatives abroad.