**Fatshimetrie: Food shortage in Matadi, a crisis weighing on the population**
The city of Matadi, in the province of Congo-Central, is currently facing a crisis in the supply of basic foodstuffs. Indeed, essential products such as horse mackerel fish, frozen chicken, sausages, roasting chicken legs, tripe, rumps, and many others have become rare on the stalls of local markets. This situation has led to a significant increase in prices, plunging a large part of the population into disarray.
The observation is alarming: in the space of a few weeks, the price of an 11 kg box of chicken has gone from 74,000 Congolese francs (approximately 26 USD) to 95,000 Congolese francs (approximately 33 USD). This sudden and significant increase is putting a strain on household purchasing power, already weakened by difficult economic conditions.
There are multiple reasons for this shortage and price spike. According to information from local sources, companies that import these frozen products point to the drop in orders placed in the countries of origin, mainly due to surcharges imposed. This situation is hampering the regularity of supplies and directly impacting supply on the local market.
Faced with this crisis, corrective measures are beginning to be considered. Importers of frozen products, in particular the company Socimex, are announcing the imminent arrival of boats transporting certain products. Unloading operations could thus take place as early as Saturday, December 28 at the port of Matadi, giving renewed hope for an improvement in the availability of foodstuffs and a stabilization of prices.
It is essential to emphasize that this food shortage situation in Matadi only exacerbates the difficulties already encountered by an already vulnerable population. It is imperative that structural and sustainable measures are taken to ensure an adequate supply of basic necessities, in order to prevent new crises and ensure the well-being of all.
In conclusion, the current crisis in Matadi highlights the fragility of food supply chains and underlines the crucial importance of ensuring access to sufficient and affordable food for all. It is time to act in a concerted manner to resolve this situation and prevent the population from being further affected by these difficulties.