UN warns of food crisis, Ukraine does not believe Russia withdraws troops

“Food prices, which are already high, are skyrocketing. Before Russian-Ukrainian war happens, our agency is in charge of feeding 125 million people worldwide. But now we’ve had to start cutting back on the rations of these people, because the cost of food, fuel and transportation costs are going up,” Beasley told the United Nations Security Council. United Nations (UN) on March 29.

According to Mr. Beasley, about 8 million people in Yemen, a country in war-torn Africa, have “just had a 50% cut in food intake”. “The war has turned the ‘breadbasket of the world’ into lines of Ukrainians waiting to be distributed, while the percentage of grain imported from this country by the countries of Lebanon and Egypt is 81 percent and 85 percent, respectively. % in 2020”, Mr. Beasley added.

People in Kharkiv, Ukraine wait in line to receive aid. Photo: Zvezda TV

“Ukraine and Russia produce 30% of the global supply of wheat, 20% of maize and 75-80% of sunflower seed oil. WFP also buys 50% of its grain from Ukraine. The war is increasing our monthly expenses by $71 million due to rising food, fuel and transportation costs. That total will be $850 million in one year,” WFP CEO said.

“If we stop the hostilities and address the food needs, we will avoid hunger, the instability of many countries and mass migration. But if we don’t, the world will pay a heavy price and the last thing we want to do is WFP will take food from hungry children and give it to starving children,” concluded Mr. Beasley.

Ukraine does not believe that Russia withdraws troops from Kiev

According to the AP news agency, the Russian military announced on March 29 that it would significantly reduce the scale of its military operations near the capital Kiev and the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, after the latest round of talks between the two sides produced an outline on the issue. agreement could end hostilities.

But Ukrainian military officials say they do not believe Russia’s claims.

“Some indications that the army Russia are regrouping units, to focus on the main operation in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, the alleged ‘withdrawal’ move was most likely a rotation of individual units intended to mislead us, by creating the misconception that they had decided not to try to cover them. siege of Kiev”, a statement issued by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army on the night of March 29 stated.

According to Sputnik news agency, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier on the same day said that the combat capacity of the Ukrainian armed forces has decreased significantly, and the Russian army can now focus on its main goal. “liberating Donbass”.

“We were also successful against foreign mercenaries who fought in Ukraine over the past month. Specifically, about 600 foreign mercenaries were killed and another 500 decided to leave Ukraine voluntarily,” Shoigu said.

Ukraine warns town near Kiev not safe yet

“People should not rush back to the town of Irpin. This place is not safe yet. The town is still under shelling, and there are many unexploded ordnance in the area. I ask everyone to stay in their shelters,” Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn told Al Jazeera news agency.

Earlier, Mr. Oleksandr Markushyn posted a video about how the Ukrainian army liberated the town of Irpin on the night of March 27, and the soldiers were having to “clean up” it.

Tuan Tran