Food prices rise sharply to Goma Dr. Congo after the M23 | News of humanitarian crises

The cost of some essential food products was more than doubled in the crowd, the capital in the eastern democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who captured the M23 rebels last week, according to locals and non -governmental organizations.

As a result of sublime costs and exacerbation of crisis crisis, the basic nutrition is for many, and hundreds of thousands of people in the city could be pushed into strong hunger, according to non -governmental organizations against poverty.

Collecting data with three Gom – Virunga, Lenina and District Markets – the organization staff reported an increase in prices on some food products, including flour, beans and oil, between 18 and 160 percent from January 25 to January 31

On the night of January 26, the fighters supported Rwanda from March 23 (M23), they broke into Goma, proclaiming it under their control. In the days, sporadic struggles occurred between the rebels and the Congol forces that followed with electricity, water and internet services and closed companies.

More than A week laterPower is mostly renovated and food products are available in the city, said Goma Al Jazeera locals. But they also confirmed that the prices had doubled or even tripled from taking over.

“I ask the new authorities to do everything they can to stabilize the situation here,” said Julienne Anifa, mother seven shopping at the Alanine Market in Gomi, Al Jazeera said over the weekend. “We buy various products at a high price. And that is economically influenced by this time of war. “

Actation’s volunteer community in the crowd, and anonymously saying to protect his safety, he said: “Everything became expensive. We paid $ 20 for a rice bucket, and now it’s at least 23 dollars. Large drinking water bottles also doubled in appreciate $ 1 to $ 2.

“During the fight … things you could buy for $ 2 at once cost $ 6 because the food didn’t get in. Now the prices have fallen a little, but for most people they are still too high.”

Actions on Monday warned that growing expenses force families to go without a meal, which brings hundreds of thousands in danger of malnutrition.

“We have no revenue – people can’t work because of the conflict, so it’s hard to get money. Everyone is broken,” said Acionaid volunteer in the community.

“Families living from $ 5 a day survive at $ 2. This means that if you ate three times a day, you can only eat once.”

‘Blocked efforts to help’

More than 90 percent of the food supplies of gom comes from the surrounding regions, actions said, but violence has broken down access to the road, which has led to a lack and price increase.

The hunger deepening crisis could have “catastrophic influences on women and girls” and bring them at a higher risk of exploitation and abuse, a non -governmental organization said.

Prior to a recent escalation, about one -quarter of 25.5 million people in the country were already in “crisis” and “urgent” level of food safety, according to the integrated food phase classification.

Over the next five months, 4.5 million children under the age of five – as well as 3.7 million pregnant women and women’s breastfeeding – could face acute malnutrition, according to the World Food Program (WFP).

WFP also warned of further displacement of “hundreds of thousands of people” in camps in eastern DRC.

The camps who hosts the displaced people in the crowd have already relied on humanitarian aid before escalating on January 26. But the fighting has interrupted the essential work of the help agencies, leaving tens of thousands without support.

“We need to get help urgently – and quickly. But currently the efforts are blocked to help,” said Yakubu Mohammed Saani, Director of DRC -A Acionaid. “We invite all parties in the conflict to enable a safe, smooth approach to humanitarian organizations.”

Late on Monday, M23 proclaimed a ceasefire To say that the rebels will stop their progress through the Eastern DRC “for humanitarian reasons.”