Up to 60 Ukrainian grain ships can be sent to some of the world's poorest countries in Africa by the end of next year, according to a statement released by Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president.
In a move that challenges the Russian narrative that the West's war on Ukraine has worsened pre-existing food shortages in Africa, Zelenskiy said ships moving out of the Ukrainian port of Odesa may reach humanitarian hotspots such as Sudan, Yemen and Somalia, but only so long as international funding comes forward to subsidise the grain.
The scheme is being run by a mix of government entities, NGOs and private corporations. The first three ships were due to leave Odesa for Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, although a German-funded ship has already left for Ethiopia.
Zelenskiy said he was launching the programme on the anniversary of Holodomor, when millions of Ukrainians starved to death in a man-made famine from 1932 -- 33. The programme is supported by a new international coordination group for the prevention of hunger.
Zelenskiy said in a statement: Even though the country struggles with food shortages, devastated farmland and widespread blackouts, we will never forget our role as a responsible global citizen, even though we have experienced famine as a nation. Africa is in desperate need of food, and Ukraine is ready to support vulnerable people in their hour of need. Andriy Yermak, head of the president's office, said the launch represented a key moment not only for Ukraine but for all countries with severe food shortages due to the ongoing conflict. Yermark called on the international community to help fund the cost of sending food to hunger-riven countries.
Russia agreed last week to extend the Black Sea corridor grain deal for a further 120 days. Since the deal was first implemented lifting the Russian blockade on Ukrainian grain over the Black Sea towards Turkey, a total of 11 mt of Ukrainian agricultural products had reached 38 countries.
Some of the poorest countries were priced out of the market due to the high price of grain. The new mechanism is designed to make sure that the market pressures sending grain to wealthy areas such as Europe can be countered. The main purpose of the programme, called Grain from Ukraine, is that countries participating in the project buy agricultural products from Ukrainian producers and transfer them to countries on the verge of starvation.
The US Agency for International Development USAID has agreed to provide up to $20 million through the UN World Food Programme. Extra funds were announced on Thursday by James Cleverly, the British foreign secretary.
Egypt and Madagascar depend on Russia or Ukraine for more than 70 80% of their wheat, while Somalia imports more than 90% of its wheat requirement. Eritrea imports 100% of its grain from Ukraine and Russia.