Sept. 4 (UPI) -- A record number of protests and complaints were reported in Cuba in August, according to a monthly report from the Cuban Observatory of Conflicts. It said Cubans voiced growing frustration over constant blackouts and worsening shortages of running water and other public services through more than 1,000 protest actions that month.
The observatory is an independent organization that monitors and documents social unrest, civic protests and repression in Cuba. It functions as a watchdog for civil liberties, tracking how citizens respond to deteriorating living conditions, government policies and systemic failures.
The report also said Cubans continued to challenge the island's police state with street demonstrations, graffiti on walls and activity on social media. In addition, public safety complaints rose, with deaths, disappearances, violence and crime doubling at what was described as an alarming level.
Residents on the island face daily power cuts that last for extended periods and a worsening shortage of drinking water, which the report said has completely disrupted daily life. Both problems fueled street protests that achieved some results, but also led to arrests, according to the report.
