‘Gold dust’: Liberians queue for rice
Published on: October 6, 2022.
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In the Clara Town suburb of Liberia’s capital Monrovia, Aminata Kanneh stands sweating under the hot midday sun, queueing in a 100-metre-long line to buy rice.
“Today makes it two weeks that I have been coming every day, but until now I have not got a grain of rice,” the 34-year-old told AFP.
Liberians around the country have for weeks been queuing outside wholesalers to get their hands on the national staple food after rumours of a coming rice shortage began circling about six months ago.
Rice prices have steadily risen to about $25 per 25-kilogram bag, from the official rate of $13, over the past six months.
“I can’t sell a bag for even $20 right now because rice has become gold dust”, said Angeline Sandy, a 27-year-old retailer.
“I bought a bag for $23 — I am selling it for $30.”
Some 1.3 million people — more than a fifth of the population — live on less than $2.15 per day, according to the World Bank.
One wholesaler who asked not to be named blamed the price hikes on the war in Ukraine, citing heightened freight costs.
“In neighbouring countries, rice is sold for more than $20 (while) we are asking for only $15.
Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/gold-dust-liberians-queue-rice-131920460.html
