More than 90 countries have made a commitment not to use food as a weapon of war, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He made this statement before a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, expressing hope that Russia would rejoin the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Blinken highlighted the importance of this agreement, as it has allowed Ukraine to export 30 million tons of food products, with more than half going to developing countries.
However, since Russia withdrew from the deal in mid-July, it has resumed its blockade of the Black Sea and attacked Ukraine’s shipping infrastructure. This has resulted in the destruction of approximately 180,000 metric tons of grain and a significant increase in the prices of wheat and other agricultural products.
Blinken emphasized that countries around the world are demanding that Russia stop using food as a weapon of war in Ukraine. This demand was also expressed during a recent summit hosted by Russia with African leaders, where half of the attendees declined to participate. The leaders who did attend urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek peace with Ukraine and reenter the grain deal.
The consequences of food insecurity are severe, with approximately 260 million people globally experiencing acute food insecurity. This is exacerbated by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts, leading to forced migration, increased warfare, and reduced economic growth. The rising prices resulting from Russia’s withdrawal from the grain accord further exacerbate food insecurity.
The international community, particularly countries in Africa,
How has Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative affected food security in Ukraine and worldwide?
More than 90 countries have committed to not using food as a weapon of war, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He announced this during a meeting of the UN Security Council and expressed hope that Russia would rejoin the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This agreement has allowed Ukraine to export 30 million tons of food products, more than half of which go to developing countries.
However, since Russia withdrew from the deal in mid-July, it has resumed its blockade of the Black Sea and attacked Ukraine’s shipping infrastructure. This has resulted in the destruction of approximately 180,000 metric tons of grain and a significant increase in the prices of wheat and other agricultural products.
Blinken emphasized the global demand for Russia to stop using food as a weapon of war in Ukraine. This demand was also expressed during a recent summit hosted by Russia with African leaders, where half of the attendees declined to participate. The leaders who did attend urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek peace with Ukraine and reenter the grain deal.
The consequences of food insecurity are severe, with around 260 million people experiencing acute food insecurity worldwide. This issue is worsened by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflicts, leading to forced migration, increased warfare, and reduced economic growth. The rising prices resulting from Russia’s withdrawal from the grain accord further exacerbate food insecurity.
The international community, especially African countries, are calling for action to address this issue.
This article sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, highlighting the devastating impact of food scarcity as a weapon of war.