United Nations: The world is at risk of a food crisis

World Food Program (WFP) Director David Beasley warned, conflict in Ukraine is threatening to destroy the work that WFP has worked so many years to secure food for some 125 million people in need.

Speaking before the United Nations Security Council on March 29, Mr. Beasley emphasized that, before the conflict, half of the grain that the World Food Program supported countries was purchased from Ukraine. In addition, the conflict prevented the World Food Program from importing fertilizer products from Russia and Belarus. As a result, crops are severely affected and yields are forecast to decrease by at least 50%.

Rising food and fuel prices, not to mention rising transportation costs, have forced the World Food Program to reduce aid for millions of people in humanitarian crises like Yemen. WFP director warned, if conflict continues, the world will pay a very heavy price because lack of food for humanitarian assistance.

Half of the grain that WFP supports countries is purchased from Ukraine. (Photo: AP)

For her part, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya expressed concern that the conflict in Ukraine could lead to the situation in places already in the midst of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. world like Afghanistan or Yemen will only get worse.

In his remarks at the meeting, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Head of Russia’s Mission to the United Nations, rejected suggestions that Russia was causing the food shortage crisis, and accused the sanctions themselves. of the West against Russia was the real cause of the crisis.

He stressed that fluctuations in the global food market are the result of a series of “bluff” sanctions by the West.

Currently, Russia and Ukraine are both major grain producers, accounting for 30% of total wheat exports, 20% of total corn exports and 75% of global sunflower oil exports.

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