00:06In Mungbalu, about 85 kilometers from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, the impact of the
00:12Ebola outbreak is being felt far beyond hospitals and treatment centers. One of the most affected
00:19group are vegetable vendors. They say the disruption in the supply chain is leading
00:23to financial losses. People are afraid and are not coming out. The streets are not busy
00:31as before. Onions and leaks from the farms stopped coming and became scarce. And when
00:36we had stock in the warehouse, since it couldn't be sold, it ended up rotting. We suffered significant
00:42losses. With uncertainty over both supply and demand, traders have switched from selling
00:51fresh produce to manufactured goods that are less perishable.
00:56Before, I used to sell tomatoes, onions and leeks. Customers weren't coming as often and
01:03things began rotting. My cash flow decreased. That's when I decided to switch to selling other
01:08products as you can see here. Farmers are also feeling the strain. With fewer buyers,
01:16as well as transport challenges, many are unable to sell their harvests. Restaurant owners who
01:22once bought their produce have lost a substantial number of customers.
01:28When the Ebola virus broke out, it had an impact on everyone. Here, I used to sell my produce to
01:34restaurant owners. They could come to buy sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains and many more other items.
01:39But as their customer numbers dropped, their businesses also declined. Our customer base has also shrunk,
01:46which is causing us anxiety and stress.
01:49So as a race to contain the latest outbreak continues, Mungbalo residents are adapting to a new reality.
01:56The outbreak is not only a public health emergency, but also an economic crisis.
02:01For more information, thank you for the rest of your business.
02:04Kala, look for your business.
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