Food prices skyrocket in DR Congo’s Goma after M23 takeover

Locals and an NGO claim that the cost of some essential food items has more than doubled in Goma, the main city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where M23 rebels were last week toppled.

Basic nutrition is out of reach for many due to rising costs and the displacement crisis, and hundreds of thousands of city residents could be in severe need, according to anti-poverty NGO ActionAid.

Collecting data from three Goma markets – Virunga, Lenine and Kituku – the organisation’s staff reported price hikes on some food items, including flour, beans and oil, of between 18 and 160 percent from January 25 to January 31

On the night of January 26, Rwanda-backed fighters from the March 23 Movement (M23) stormed into Goma, declaring it under their control. In the days that followed, there was intermittent fighting between the rebels and Congolese forces, with the rebels losing power and closing down businesses.

Local Goma residents reported to Al Jazeera that more than a week later, the city’s power was largely restored and food products were readily available. However, they also confirmed that prices have increased by two or even three since the takeover.

Over the weekend, Julienne Anifa, a mother of seven shopping at the Alanine Market in Goma, told Al Jazeera, “I’m asking the new authorities to do everything they can to stabilize the situation here.” We pay a high price for a variety of goods. And in this time of war, this is having an economic impact.

An ActionAid community volunteer in Goma, speaking anonymously to protect his safety, said: “Everything has become expensive. A bucket of rice cost us $20, but it’s now at least $23. The price of the large drinking water bottles has also increased from $1 to $2.

Because food wasn’t entering during the fighting, items you could purchase for $2 suddenly cost $6. Although prices have decreased a little, the majority of people still find them to be too high.

ActionAid warned families on Monday that rising food costs are putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk of malnutrition.

” We have no income – people can’t go to work because of the conflict, so getting money is difficult. Everyone is broke, “said ActionAid’s community volunteer.

Families that used to live on $5 per day are now surviving on $2. That means you can only eat once if you used to eat three times per day.

Aid efforts are being thwarted, according to the statement.

More than 90 percent of Goma’s food supplies come from surrounding regions, ActionAid said, but violence has cut off road access, leading to the shortages and price hikes.

According to the NGO, the growing hunger crisis could have “catastrophic effects on women and girls” and increase their risk of exploitation and abuse.

Before the recent escalation, about one-quarter of the country’s 25.5 million people were already in” crisis “and” emergency “levels of food security, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 4.5 million children under the age of five, as well as 3.7 million pregnant and breastfeeding women, may experience acute malnutrition over the next five months.

The WFP also issued a warning about the “several thousand people” being further displaced in eastern DRC camps.

Before the escalation on January 26th, Goma’s camps already relied on humanitarian aid. But the fighting interrupted the essential work of&nbsp, aid agencies, leaving tens of thousands without support.

” We urgently need to get aid in – and fast. But right now aid efforts are being blocked, “said Yakubu Mohammed Saani, ActionAid’s DRC country director”. We call on all parties to the conflict to allow safe, unhindered access for humanitarian organisations. “

Source: Aljazeera