Tue Feb 04 15:34:22 UTC 2025: ## Goma Food Prices Soar After M23 Takeover, Hundreds of Thousands Face Hunger

**Goma, DRC** – The capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, by M23 rebels last week has triggered a devastating surge in food prices, leaving hundreds of thousands facing severe hunger, according to ActionAid and local residents.

The NGO reported price increases ranging from 18% to a staggering 160% on essential items like flour, beans, and oil between January 25th and 31st. This follows the M23’s takeover on January 26th, which disrupted supply chains, cut off essential services, and halted businesses. While electricity and some services have since been restored, the cost of living remains prohibitively high for most.

Local residents confirmed the dramatic price increases, with some items doubling or tripling in cost. A mother of seven, Julienne Anifa, described the economic hardship impacting families. An ActionAid community volunteer reported that the price of rice had increased significantly, and even basic necessities like bottled water have doubled in price.

The disruption of supply routes, with over 90% of Goma’s food coming from surrounding regions now inaccessible due to ongoing conflict, is exacerbating the crisis. ActionAid warned that families are skipping meals, and those previously surviving on $5 a day are now scraping by on $2.

This crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of pre-existing food insecurity in the DRC. Before the recent escalation, a quarter of the population was already facing crisis or emergency levels of food security. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 4.5 million children under five and 3.7 million pregnant and breastfeeding women could face acute malnutrition in the next five months. Furthermore, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people into already overstretched camps has further strained resources.

ActionAid’s DRC country director, Yakubu Mohammed Saani, urgently appealed for unhindered access for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid, calling on all parties to the conflict to ensure safe passage. While M23 has declared a ceasefire, the immediate impact on the humanitarian crisis remains unclear. The soaring food prices and widespread hunger in Goma highlight the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.

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