“Men efter ni måneder med islamisterne har vi lige så mange fjender som indbyggere her i byen”, siger en lokal læge, mens mange butikker er lukkede, fordi tuareger og arabiske handlende frygter repressalier fra regeringshæren.
GAO (Mali), 20 February 2013 (IRIN): Since military intervention began over a month ago in northern Mali, the city of Gao has been cut off from major markets, leading to shortages of basic goods, skyrocketing food prices and a reliance on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide water and electricity.
Two days ago the road from central Mali’s Mopti reopened, giving hope to residents that the situation might ease.
“Almost as important as the people returning is the fact that north-south trade can restart,” said Abba Haidara, a Gao inhabitant, adding:
“We are depending on goods coming in from Bamako, Sikasso and Ségou. Living here now is unaffordable (alt for dyrt).”
Gao resident Attahar Maïga* told IRIN:
“We are starting to suffocate (lide). There’s nothing to eat… All trade has shut down… I am wondering what we will do when our stores are empty.”
Skyrocketing food prices
Over the last month food prices- already high in Gao – skyrocketed further, with a kilogram of rice costing as much as two US dollar (ca. 11 DKR) – up from 60 US cents; and sugar – a diet staple (grundkost) – costing 1,50 dollar (8,25 DKR) per kilo.
Despite the road opening up, most of the shops that were run by Arabs or Tuaregs remain shut, since most of the Arabs and Tuaregs fled town fearing arrest or beatings by Malian forces.
Fear and suspicion remain high following two suicide-bomber attacks on a checkpoint on the road into Gao from Bourem, a town to the north, and a surprise raid in Gao by insurgents. Gao residents said they knew rebels were still hiding among them in abandoned houses.
“After nine months of Islamist rule, Gao has as many enemies as it has inhabitants,” said Boubacar Cissé, a doctor at the regional hospital.
Children had learned to cooperate with Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) commanders who controlled Gao for 10 months, and some of the local youth were frequently spotted among turbaned fighters.
An empty river port (by the Niger river)
Gao’s river port and the road along the river used to be bustling with traders, but now “the market has almost completely shut down – there is nothing,” resident Adiza Maïga told IRIN.
He has a small herd of animals which he has killed one by one each week to feed his family, as they have no cereal stocks left.
Meat prices have risen from 1,40 dollar for a good cut to 2 dollar, according to local trader Mohammed Maïga, as farmers from nearby villages have been unable to bring their cattle to Gao’s market.
Traders hope the opening of the road will change that.
Attahar Maïga, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gao, told IRIN: “The situation had paralysed the economy. People were panicking.”
The World Food Programme brought a truck-load of food supplies to Gao last week, but renewed violence led it to pull back again.
ICRC help
Læs videre på
http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97513/Hope-for-Mali-s-Gao-residents-as-road-opens
