Fighting in eastern DRC: “Throughout Masisi, famine is setting in,” says local official
In eastern DRC, fighting has intensified between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army, supported by the Wazalendo militias. Fighting which impacts the territory of Masisi, in the province of North Kivu: nearly 700,000 people have been displaced there by the clashes. “
The problem persists of access to foodstuffs for all basic necessities coming from Goma
,” warns a local civil society leader.
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[Illustrative image] People gathering on a busy road while carrying some of their belongings as they flee Masisi territory following clashes between M23 rebels and government forces, on a road near Sake, February 7, 2024. AFP - AUBIN MUKONI
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (
DRC
), fighting has intensified in recent days in the province of North Kivu, in the east of the country. Fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army, supported by the Wazalendo militias.
This outbreak of violence around the town of Saké – around thirty kilometers from Goma, capital of the North Kivu province – and in the Masisi territory has caused significant population displacements. According to humanitarian actors, more than 135,000 people have moved to the city of Goma.
“
Everyone fled to the villages
”
In the territory of Masisi the situation is also critical. Since December, nearly 700,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. The roads are cut and supply in this territory is becoming very difficult, explains Voltaire Batundi, from the civil society of Masisi, joined by
Alexandra Brangeon
: “
The problem persists of access to foodstuffs on all the basic necessity products coming from from Goma: corn flour, beans, cereals, fuel, medicines… It does not pass the road which connects Goma to Walikale via Masisi. It's cut because the M23 took Mushaki and demands taxes.
»
Voltaire Batundi says: “
For a vehicle that is loaded, you have to pay at least $750 per vehicle, so that increased the price until it made access to these foods difficult. The products that arrive are very expensive. A sachet of salt which cost around 1,000 francs today is 2,000. It also doubled the price because local products are not at harvest time. Everyone fled to the villages. Even for local products, prices have risen because they have been left in the fields. And above all, it's all of Masisi, everywhere it's like that, famine is setting in.
»
Read alsoDRC: the security situation in the east of the country is increasingly worrying, MSF alert
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