Conflict and epidemic disease disrupt livelihoods in the DRC

Following the outbreak of avian influenza in Mahagi, Djugu, and Irumi territories in the province of Ituri, where the disease has already killed more than 5,000 chickens and ducks, measures have been taken to prohibit the spread to other poultry. Large numbers of poultry infected in neighboring areas, and the closure of all markets for poultry trade has significantly decreased incomes of poor households, which will in turn restrict their access to food. 

The opening of the Zambian border during the peak maize harvest promotes stable prices in the ex-Katanga provinces over contributes to food availability and contributes to food availability in the area despite the general upward trend in food prices that have been observed in connection to the continued depreciation of the Congolese Franc against the US Dollar. 

The crisis situation in the declared military operations zone of the central Kasai has deplaced nearly 20 percent of the rural population and disrupted basic social services, as well as disrupting normal market supplies. These activities are having a significant impact of people’s access to livelihoods, and are leading poor households to make use of increasingly severe and unsustainable coping strategies. 

The emergence of the Ebola virus in the Likati health zone of Bas-Uele province in late April 2017, which has infected 19 people, including 2 confirmed cases, 3 probable cases, 14 suspected cases and 4 deaths, continues to be of great concern in the region, even as transmission control mechanisms are put in place. If the situation continues, it will limit population movements, and limit access to livelihoods, even though good harvests are expected.