Nicholas Bariyo

The supermarket shelves are empty.

The food stores are closed or empty.

So most of the traders have nothing to sell.

Those that are available are very, very expensive and unaffordable.

They have introduced a lot of restrictions here.

They have a lot of checkpoints.

They control the border crossings.

And in this case, they give priority to imports that come from Rwanda or Rwandan allies.

These kind of restrictions harboring the movement of trade.

One trader told me that he couldn't get his container cleared because he had gotten it from Kenya and M23 questioned it and held it for several weeks until the food got rotten.

Yes, they have evicted a lot of local farmers, especially in food baskets, disrupted farming activities, disrupted harvest.

Usually most of the supermarket shelves are empty, the food stores are closed or empty, the markets are also empty.

Some of the commodities are really so scarce, especially those that are imported like rice, like cooking oil.

So most of the traders have nothing to sell.

Those that are available are very, very expensive and unaffordable.

The UN and Western governments have been pushing M23 to a ceasefire, but these have really done little to change the situation on the ground.

The UN is also pushing for the reopening of Goma International Airport, which was a major hub for the supply of relief aid.

The rebels, so far, have not allowed its reopening.

And aid agencies are warning that some people may starve to death, especially vulnerable people, mothers and young children and the sick.

Thanks for having me.