Food is getting scarce
in many of the markets in parts of the Gao region of northern Mali and stocks
are likely to end in few weeks, according to Oxfam.
Communities have been
facing shortages since last year’s drought and conflict and will struggle to
afford or even to find enough food to eat if the Algerian border and roads
remain closed and the north remains inaccessible.
“Communities are
effectively cut off and if the situation continues then food stocks in the area
will only last few weeks. Things are set to get worse for people who cannot or
do not wish to leave and have been living in incredibly tough circumstances for
almost a year” said Philippe Conraud, Oxfam Country Director in Mali.
The situation is acute
in rural markets, in areas where people depend upon their livestock, and where
a large part of Northern Mali’s population live. These markets, only supplied
once a week, are no longer operating as usual and people are finding it
difficult to sell their animals to get the cash they need.
Many traders have moved
their remaining stocks from Gao to villages and communes outside of the town.
Many have left Mali completely.
As current fighting
moves north there is a growing fear that Gao will be the next center of conflict
– forcing more people to flee their homes into areas where there will be
limited access to food, drinking water and medical care.
A precarious future
They face a precarious
future with few options of escape as the main public transportation services to
the South and neighboring Niger has been suspended since the past 10 days.
“Most people left in
the area are those who cannot afford to leave. If people are to receive
urgently needed aid then humanitarian organisations need to be allowed into the
conflict-affected zones. Borders with neighboring countries should be kept open
and critical supply routes for food accessible. If help does not arrive soon
then we may be seeing the start of a major humanitarian emergency,” added Mr.
Conraud.
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