US Edition
This city was built on diamonds but its citizens are starving
Mbuji-Mayi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, made its wealth out of diamonds. Now, the city is overcome by poverty and malnutrition
For a hundred years, Mbuji-Mayi prospered from diamonds. Tens of thousands of civilians were employed by the diamond mining firm MIBA. But with its growth came a black market, embezzlement and looting, and mismanagement left the mining firm crippled by debt.
The firm closed at the height of the 2008 financial crisis and its residents have paid the price.
Image: 1 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
Prices of cereals, fruits, water and fuel have doubled or even trebled, and the city has become reliant on neighbouring provinces for food.
“So many children suffer malnutrition here,” said Constantine Atunaku, a local resident of Mbuji-Mayi. “We have so many cases. People don’t have access to water. For medical treatment, they have to go far.”
Image: 2 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
DRC faces one of the world’s largest hunger crises globally and is home to the highest number of food-insecure people globally – some 26.4 million, a quarter of the national population.
Image: 3 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
An estimated 2.8 million children under five and 2.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers suffer acute malnutrition. Infant and child mortality rates are among the worst in the world, with 45 per cent of all deaths of children under five linked to malnutrition.
Image: 4 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
The once booming region of Mbuji-Mayi is where the president Felix Tshisekedi was raised. Politicians have reportedly made repeated promises to reignite industry there, but critics say little investments have actually been made.
“People are waiting for something to come back. They don’t have jobs, there is no revenue. There is a sense of senselessness,” said Giovanni Sciolto, country director of Action Against Hunger.
Ministers held a workshop in January to assess a recovery plan for the city, but until that happens, charities have been left to pick up the pieces.
Image: 5 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
“The hunger crisis is extremely high in this part of the country. Basic services, like electricity and water, aren’t even intermittent – they just aren’t there,” said Mr Sciolto.
Image: 6 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger
Aid workers say that the hunger crisis in Mbuji-Mayi gets little attention compared to the crisis in the east, which has been fuelled by conflict between militants.
“It makes headlines, but this food crisis [in Mbuji-Mayi] does not, because there is no conflict,” said Mr Sciolto.
Image: 7 of 7
Source: ALEXIS HUGUET/Action Against Hunger