UN’s WFP Says Continuing Attacks in Ukraine is Fast Becoming a War on Food Security

• Neville Gabby
• 0 comment
• May 20, 2022

As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine are likely to extend beyond summer, U.S. Congress passed a bill granting $40 billion in aid to the country led by Pres. Zelensky. Last May 06, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) aired concerns that the global hunger crisis could spin out of control if the food being produced in Ukraine cannot flow freely across the globe. Unbeknownst to many, the war-torn country is a major exporter of agriculture products, providing food to around 400 million people worldwide.

According to the WFP, the ports in Odesa and other Ukrainian ports located along the Black Sea are blocked because of the ongoing war. That being the case, millions of metric tons of grain remain stored in Ukraine silos as ships are unable to transport them because of the conflict.

Prolonged Armed Conflict in Ukraine Could Result to Global Famine

Currently, the WFP’s main problem is food pricing, but the continuing lack of food supply could very well become a food availability problem in 2023. David Beasley, the Executive Director at World Food Programme warned that

“during this unprecedented crisis, not allowing the ports of Ukraine to let the supply of food flow freely is akin to declaring
war on global food security.”

Mr. Beasley urges all parties involved to permit the supply of food to leave Ukraine so it can reach places where it is desperately needed. He added that they are running out of time as the result of continuing inaction is the looming threat of famine.

While Ukraine’s grain silos remain full, 44 million people across the globe are facing starvation. Based on WFP’s analysis, the number could rise to 47 million if the war continues. WFP studies show that since the start of 2022, 276 million people worldwide have been experiencing acute hunger. The UN WFP Director says the world demands the opening of the Ukraine ports so that food supply can move out of Ukraine.