Ukraine invasion could lead to global food crisis, UN warns
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says rising prices have made war worse for food insecurity in poorer countries.
He added that if Ukraine’s exports were not restored to pre-war levels, the world could face a famine that would persist year after year.
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The conflict has cut off supplies from Ukrainian ports, which once exported large quantities of sunflower oil, as well as cereals such as corn and wheat.
This has reduced global supply and increased the price of options. According to the United Nations, global food prices are about 30% higher than the same period last year.
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, Mr Guterres said the conflict “could cause millions of people to suffer from food insecurity in the wake of malnutrition, widespread hunger and famine”.
“We have enough food in the world now if we work together. But if we do not solve this problem today, we will face the threat of global food shortages in the coming months,” he added.
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He warned that there was no effective solution to the food crisis without re-integrating Ukraine’s food production, as well as Russian and Belarusian fertilizers, into the global market.
Mr Guterres said he was “in close contact” with Russia and Ukraine, as well as the United States and the EU, in an effort to bring food exports back to normal.
“The complex security, economic and financial implications require the goodwill of all parties,” he said.
His comments came on the eve of the World Bank’s announcement of $ 12bn (£ 9.7bn) in additional funding for its Food Insecurity Project.
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The move would bring the total amount available for such projects to more than £ 30bn over the next 15 months.
Russia and Ukraine supply 30% of the world’s wheat, and – before the war – Ukraine was seen as the world’s breadbasket, exporting 4.5 million tons of agricultural products per month through its ports.
But since Russia began its invasion in February, exports have plummeted and prices have skyrocketed. They have risen further since India imposed a ban on wheat exports on Saturday.
The United Nations says Ukraine currently has about 20 million tonnes of grain stuck in previous crops, which, if released, could ease global market pressure.
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While the number of people facing food insecurity has been rising since before the attack, German Foreign Minister Analina Bearbak on Wednesday accused Moscow of creating a worse situation.
“Russia has started a grain war, creating a global food crisis,” said Berlin’s top diplomat. “It is doing so at a time when millions are already under threat from hunger, especially in the Middle East and Africa.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the world was facing “the biggest global food security crisis of our time” which was intensified by what he called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war of choice.”
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Ukraine invasion could lead to global food crisis, UN warns
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News East India staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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