Soap Joins Sugar, Eggs on Cubans’ Wish List

Havana’s hard-pressed residents, already making do with reduced supplies of sugar and eggs this month, are now being asked to accept a temporary sharp cutback in their soap ration.

A spokesman for Havana’s Provincial Directorate of Retail Trade said Friday that existing supplies of “jabon de lavar”--an unscented bar of soap used for washing clothes--would be distributed in the capital only for children of up to two years of age.

Previously the ration had been one bar each month per person, regardless of age. Infants are now being given sole priority because their clothes and diapers need frequent washing.