2023-07-22 07:49:06
“Russia’s termination of its participation in the Black Sea Initiative” will deepen the food crisis, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo warned at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
In terminating the agreement, Moscow also withdrew security guarantees for ships sailing in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
Ms DiCarlo said food prices have risen around the world since the collapse of the deal, deepening the agricultural, energy and financial crises that are already affecting the world’s most vulnerable people.
In this context, she stressed the UN’s commitment to ensuring that food and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia can continue to reach world markets.
This message was echoed by UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who recalled that 362 million people in 69 countries depend on aid to survive.
He said world grain prices have soared this week, citing information from the World Food Program (WFP). On Wednesday, wheat and corn futures rose nearly 9% and 8%, respectively, and the price hike will be felt most by families in developing countries already at risk.
Last Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres deeply regretted Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the grain initiative.
During a press briefing in New York, the UN chief recalled that this initiative has ensured the safe passage of more than 32 million tons of foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports and that the World Food Program (WFP) has shipped more than 725,000 tons to support humanitarian operations, “alleviating hunger in some of the hardest hit regions of the world, including Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen”.
1690021384
#Cereals #warns #risk #food #crisis
