A UN-chartered ship loaded with 23,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat destined for millions of hungry people in Ethiopia docked in neighbouring Djibouti Aug. 30, 2022. (Credit WFP)

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS  –   NEW  YORK  –  The first maritime shipment of Ukrainian wheat grain from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) arrived Tuesday at the Horn of Africa port of Djibouti to help prevent starvation in the region.  The vessel ‘Brave Commander’ left Ukraine’s Yuzhny (Pivdennyi) Port August 16 as part of efforts by the WFP to get much needed Ukrainian grain out of the conflict-hit country, back into global markets, and to countries worst affected by the global food crisis. The shipment of 23,000 metric tons of wheat grain will go to WFP’s humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa where the threat of famine stalks the drought-hit region. A WFP official said of the arriving vessel in the Horn of Africa port:

“The food on the Brave Commander  will feed 1.5 million people for one month in Ethiopia. So this makes a very big impact for those people who currently have nothing and now WFP will be able to provide them with their basic needs.”

Halt Of Ukranian Grain Food Shipments Has Big Impact in Africa 

The Horn of Africa is one of many areas around the world where the near complete halt of Ukrainian grain and food on global market has made life even harder for families already struggling with rising hunger, according to WFP. A record 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support, the WFP said. There are at least five who are already in famine-like conditions and another 20 that are on what we call the watchlist for famine,” according to a UN humanitarian official.

“Getting the Black Sea Ports open is the single most important thing we can do right now to help the world’s hungry. It will take more than grain ships out of Ukraine to stop world hunger, but with Ukrainian grain back on global markets we have a chance to stop this global food crisis from spiraling even further.”

-WFP Executive Director David Beasley said at the time the vessel left the Black Sea. 

The WFP said that with commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic now resuming in and out of Ukraine’s Black Sea Port, some global supply disruptions will ease with relief for countries facing the worst of the global food crisis.  And even more crucially, WFP said,  it will also allow Ukraine to empty its grain storage silos ahead of the summer season harvest. However,  the world still faces an unprecedented food crisis despite WFP efforts.  Immediate action is needed that brings together the humanitarian community, governments, and the private sector to save lives and invest in long term solutions. “Failure will see people around the world slip into devastating famines with destabilizing impacts felt by us all,”   WFP said. 

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change