A community is gripped by anxiety following the recent disappearances of two individuals, Felicia Gómez Díaz and Yulior Osorio Díaz, which have sparked widespread concern and calls for increased action from Cuban authorities.
Felicia Gómez Díaz, 67, has been missing for 20 days as of this Wednesday. A dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, Felicia left her home on December 5 at 8 AM to tend to her cows, but she never returned. Residing on her family's farm in the village of La Ermita, along the road from Trinidad to Sancti Spíritus, she had lived there for 40 years. That fateful morning, Felicia was dressed in a green coat, leggings, rubber boots, and sporting a blue cap from the local baseball team.
Her husband realized she was missing just one hour after her departure, initiating the search himself. He was soon joined by relatives and neighbors, who formed a united front to locate Felicia. Despite being diabetic, she had breakfast before leaving, and her family believes she did not fall victim to robbery, since the cows returned home without incident. A family member stated, “The cows always go to the same place and come back on their own,” according to CiberCuba.
Felicia's granddaughter, Jéssica Cabrera Gómez, has taken to social media to amplify the search, posting, “My grandmother is still missing. Today, December 20th, marks 15 days... Please share...” Her call for assistance highlights the urgency of the situation and reflects the broader concern for safety amid rising disappearances.
Unfortunately, the family’s search has encountered significant challenges, particularly with local authorities. Reports from family members indicate dissatisfaction with the police’s delayed response; they were informed by officials they needed to wait 24 hours before the investigation could commence. An officer eventually arrived with a dog but reported no scent could be detected after the initial period had passed. Frustration grew as community members witnessed police officers sitting idly under a mango tree instead of actively searching.
This lack of immediate action intensified community involvement, with residents banding together to assist the Gómez Díaz family. “From day one, the entire community of La Ermita and the nearby fields where the family has friends have joined the intensive search,” said friends of Felicia. “Some people have had to return to work, but many remain dedicated to finding her.”
Meanwhile, another heartbreaking story unfurls in the village of Ocujal del Turquino, situated within the Sierra Maestra of Santiago de Cuba. Yulior Osorio Díaz, whose family has been searching for over a week following his disappearance after leaving Matanzas, has left his relatives filled with anguish. His cousin, Daima Ricardo Osorio, reported the family’s desperate state on social media, pleading for any information. A person close to the family revealed to CiberCuba, “The police have done nothing. Just two months ago, he lost his brother to cancer, and now the parents are on the brink of collapse.”
The current circumstances highlight systemic failures and resource gaps facing the families of missing persons. Yulior's family lacks even the basic means to reach out for help, amplifying the distressing situation. The local community has since rallied on social media, demanding the authorities take more substantial action to locate him, following the appeals made by friends and relatives.
Both cases exemplify the rising incidence of disappearances faced by families across Cuba, ushered by increasing violence and sluggish governmental responses. Social media serves as the primary platform for families seeking assistance and is emblematic of the persistent need for community engagement when local authorities fall short.
Addressing these issues, the independent feminist group Alas Tensas has taken to social media reiterate the urgent need for effective protocols to handle disappearances. “The safety and lives of women should not rely solely on community efforts but on a system...” they stated, highlighting the inadequacies of current protective measures.
Discussions surrounding these recent disappearances bring to the forefront not only the individual case of Felicia and Yulior but also the systemic issues and failures inherent within the response systems. Community members continue to advocate for improved actions and protocols surrounding missing persons, stressing the importance of such measures for the well-being and safety of their communities.
For those with any information related to these cases, they are urged to reach out directly to the families. The impact of effective communication could dramatically alter the outcomes for people like Felicia and Yulior, reinforcing the need for urgency and collaboration across both community and authorities.
