Ebola-hit Liberia fears starvation as quarantine blocks food supplies
Food supplies stop as Liberian army restricts travel from the country's badly affected north to try to halt the spread of deadly epidemic
Residents of northern Liberia have been in a state of peril for months as the deadly Ebola epidemic swept through the region. Now they face a new threat as measures to stem the spread of the virus spark fears of starvation.
To try to contain an epidemic that has cost nearly 1,000 lives throughout west Africa, the Liberian government has quarantined the most badly affected northern provinces – cutting off access with military roadblocks and travel restrictions.
The quarantine has meant that traders have been unable to travel to buy food and farmers cannot harvest their crops, which, in turn, has caused shortages and sent prices soaring.
Siaffa Kamara, from Bopolu, north of the capital Monrovia, said: “People are panicking here; we are afraid to die from hunger. This is the rainy season and it is raining everywhere.
“The little money I had I used to buy rice, which is very expensive. What I bought is not enough for three weeks. I have 25 people to feed in my house.”
Miatta Sharif, also from Bopolu, said: “We agree measures have to be put in place to contain the virus, but at the same time we don’t have to die from hunger.
“Clinics are closed. “If we cannot get food to eat, how do we survive? The victims will be more than that of Ebola.”
