The United Nations stated on Monday that the Ukrainian grain export agreement, which may fall apart in a matter of weeks, is crucial for the millions of people living in the Horn of Africa, some of whom are already starving.
According to Arab News, unless Russia agrees to its renewal, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which aims to ease the global food crisis, is scheduled to expire at the end of July 17.
Eastern Africa would “absolutely be hit very, very hard” if the export agreement falls through, according to the senior emergency officer for the UN World Food Programme, Dominique Ferretti.
“A number of countries depend on wheat from Ukraine. And if you didn’t have it, food prices would be much higher,” he said.
Prior to the agreement being signed in July 2022, which allowed for the passage of crucial grain supplies, warships from Ukraine prevented Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine was one of the top producers in the world, and the grain agreement has helped ease the worldwide food shortage brought on by the conflict.
According to the UN, around 32.4 million tonnes have been shipped thus far under the deal. Corn made up slightly more than half of the exports, while wheat made up more than a quarter.
The initial 120-day accord reached with the UN and Turkiye last July was extended three times: in November, March, and May.
Russia, though, continues to insist that this parallel deal is not being upheld.
On June 13, Russia threatened to cancel the agreement once more, claiming that despite repeated UN guarantees, several terms were still not being respected.
Ferretti stated that the grain deal with Ukraine “is absolutely critical, not just for East Africa but for all of Africa.”
Earlier this month, a UN-sponsored conference raised $2.4 billion to avert famine in the Horn of Africa, which is suffering from the worst drought in decades as a result of rising global temperatures.
According to Ferretti, over 43,000 people in South Sudan and 40,350 people in Somalia suffer from severe food insecurity, eating just once or twice a week.
Although the UN has not officially declared a famine, UN authorities have stated that one exists.
