US and Russia fight over rising food prices
The US blamed the special operation in Ukraine for raising global food prices, while Russia blamed Western sanctions on it.
Ambassador America Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on April 14, criticized Russia for “making the food situation more precarious in Yemen and worse elsewhere” when it launched its military operation. special in Ukraine.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said the World Food Program identifies Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab bloc, as one of the countries most affected by rising wheat prices and a lack of imports from Ukraine.
Deputy ambassador Russia At the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky later asserted that his country’s special military operation in Ukraine “is not the main factor causing instability and the source of the problem today, but the sanctions imposed on the country. us”, which aims to cut off Russian energy supplies to the West.
“If you really want to help the world avoid a food crisis, you should lift the sanctions you have imposed and chosen by you. Poor countries will immediately feel the difference,” Mr. Polyansky said. “If you’re not willing to do this, stop preaching and fooling people.”
A combine harvester harvests wheat in a field near the village of Suvorovskaya in Stavropol province, Russia July 2021. Image: Reuters.
The exchange of words comes a day after a United Nations task force warned that hostilities in Ukraine threaten to devastate the economies of many developing countries, which are already facing rising food and energy costs in the past few years. when their financial conditions became increasingly difficult.
“Up to 1.7 billion people, a third of whom are in poverty, are facing disruptions to food, energy and financial systems that are increasing poverty,” the Secretary-General said. UN Secretary Antonio Guterres said.
Thirty-six countries import more than 50 percent of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine, among them the world’s poorest, Guterres said. Meanwhile, wheat and corn prices are up 30% since the start of this year.
The UN task force reports 69 countries, with a population of 1.2 billion, severely or significantly affected by food, energy and financial crises. The United Nations on April 14 announced the disbursement of $100 million from an emergency fund to support seven food shortage hotspots, including Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Nigeria.
Asked about Russian deputy ambassador Polyansky’s comments and whether Guterres was concerned that sanctions would raise food prices, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said “it would be safe to say there are no sanctions if there are no sanctions” there is no conflict”.
Nguyen Tien (According to ABC News)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
