Implication of the Russo-Ukrainian crisis on food security and poverty in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Summary

This cross-sectional study of 384 households in Bukavu, eastern DRC, examines how the Russo-Ukrainian crisis, compounded by local conflicts and Covid-19, disrupted food supply chains and raised living costs. Despite acceptable mean food consumption scores, the analysis reveals severe food insecurity (69.10% of households) and high food poverty (83% prevalence) driven by gasoline price inflation, supply isolation from North Kivu, and reduced economic opportunities. Education level, household size, income-generating activities, and food stocks emerged as significant factors mediating food security outcomes.

Regional applicability

This study documents food security dynamics in a conflict-affected region of sub-Saharan Africa, with limited direct applicability to United Kingdom conditions. However, the methodological approach—combining food consumption metrics with Foster-Gréer-Thorbecke poverty indices—offers a transferable framework for assessing food security in supply-disrupted populations, and the findings underscore how global commodity shocks (fuel prices, trade disruptions) propagate food insecurity in import-dependent economies.

Key measures

Food Consumption Score (FCS), Household Dietary Diversity Score, food security classification (FAO 2120 Kcal threshold), Foster-Gréer-Thorbecke poverty index, gasoline price changes (FC per cubic metre), food poverty prevalence, poverty gap, and poverty severity index

Outcomes reported

The study measured household food consumption scores, food security status using FAO thresholds, and food poverty indices in Bukavu during the Russo-Ukrainian crisis. It assessed how gasoline price inflation, supply chain disruption, and local conflicts affected food access and poverty rates.

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