Price hike devastates families in Sierra Leone
This
article talks about the families in Sierra Leone and how they are quickly
noticing and wondering where their next meal will come from. It is stated in
the article that the basic food that the families lived off of is on the rise.
‘Walla’ rice, which is highly consumed by many, was sold at Le 700 per cup and
now the price has jumped to Le 900 per cup. Palm oil, another essential with
each meal, was worth Le1,500 but now the price per pint is Le4,000. This is
more than doubled the price. This rise on prices of food is due to the
smuggling of these types of food. The
article notes that the smuggling is ran by one man that is friends with the
police. He has not been arrested and charged with committing a crime against
the state. Also reading the article, it is stated that the Republic of Sierra
Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police manages the points where the
food is being smuggled.
This blog
does have a downside to it. It is not noted on what the government will do to
lower the prices so these families will not go to bed without a staple food. It
does mention that a group called Activist, a Hunger Free campaign civil rights
group, is trying to make food available and affordable for all. But this is
only one group who are trying to lower the food prices. Not only in Sierra
Leone are the prices of food rising but the prices of products of the United
States are also increasing. Now knowing that the price of minimum wage could be
increasing, it has been brought to the attention of the people that with this
increase of minimum wage there has to be a compensation of price increases on
products to support this change. I feel as though this article shows that in some
areas of the world there is a disconnection within the government, these
families should be able to live comfortably without having to worry about food
and how it will make it to their plates.
Kayla Howard
Submitted: February 15, 2013 11:45
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