livelihoods

Border Closure to Curb Ebola Cuts ‘Lifeline’ Between Goma and Rwanda

The closure of the Petite Barrière border crossing on May 16 after an Ebola case in Goma, DRC, has severed a key trade route, leaving thousands of small-scale traders without livelihoods despite health authorities citing disease control. Many residents, like tomato seller Murielle Ihora, have been refused entry into Rwanda, forcing them to find alternative sources. Health experts question the effectiveness of border closures, favoring surveillance, while traders face economic hardship.