Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine could soon cause a global food crisis that may last for years, the UN has warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the war had worsened food insecurity in poorer nations due to rising prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some countries could face long-term famines if Ukraine\u2019s exports are not restored to pre-war levels, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conflict has cut-off supplies from Ukraine\u2019s ports, which once exported vast amounts of cooking oil as well as cereals such as maize and wheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has reduced the global supply and caused the price of alternatives to soar. Global food prices are almost 30% higher than the same time last year, according to the UN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, Mr Guterres said the conflict \u2013 combined with the effects of climate change and the pandemic \u2013 \u201cthreatens to tip tens of millions of people over the edge into food insecurity followed by malnutrition, mass hunger and famine\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is enough food in our world now if we act together. But unless we solve this problem today, we face the spectre of global food shortage in the coming months,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned that the only effective solution to the crisis was reintegrating Ukraine\u2019s food production, as well as fertiliser produced by both Russia and Belarus, back into the global market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Guterres also said he was in \u201cintense contact\u201d with Russia and Ukraine, as well as the US and the EU, in an effort to restore food exports to normal levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe complex security, economic and financial implications require goodwill on all sides,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments came on the same day the World Bank announced extra funding worth $12bn (\u00a39.7bn) for projects addressing food insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move will bring the total amount available for such projects to more than \u00a330bn over the next 15 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia and Ukraine produce 30% of the world\u2019s wheat supply and \u2013 prior to the war \u2013 Ukraine was seen as the world\u2019s bread basket, exporting 4.5 million tonnes of agricultural produce per month through its ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But since Russia launched its invasion in February, exports have collapsed and prices have skyrocketed. They climbed even further after India banned wheat exports on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UN says around 20 million tonnes of grain are currently stuck in Ukraine from the previous harvest which, if released, could ease pressure on global markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the number of people facing food insecurity had been growing even before the invasion, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, accused Moscow of making a difficult situation even worse on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRussia has launched a grain war, stoking a global food crisis,\u201d Berlin\u2019s top diplomat said. \u201cIt is doing so at a time when millions are already being threatened by hunger, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the world faced the \u201cgreatest global food security crisis of our time\u201d which had been exacerbated by what he called Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s \u201cwar of choice\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source:dailyguide<\/p>\n\n\n\n