War in Ukraine threatens world food security
Mar 23, 2022 21:44:45 GMT -5
Post by shalom on Mar 23, 2022 21:44:45 GMT -5
War in Ukraine threatens world food security
Sharp rises in food prices in the past have caused political unrest
By MOHAMMED AL-KASSIM/THE MEDIA LINE Published: MARCH 23, 2022 23:57
Updated: MARCH 24, 2022 00:01
The ongoing war in Ukraine not only caused the disruption of Russian gas and oil supplies, forcing a sharp spike in energy prices, but also cut off all Ukrainian grain exports, 95% of which pass through the ports of the Black Sea. The same is true of Russian exports of grain from the Sea of Azov. This has created a mammoth crisis in global markets, and exacerbated an already severe food crisis.
The military escalation in Ukraine is a threat to global food security, energy supplies and political stability, experts say. This comes on the heels of more than two difficult years in which governments have been dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on food availability. Before the war erupted last month, the coronavirus had been causing a shortage of basic products in North Africa and the Middle East due to worldwide supply chain problems.
Now the Russian invasion of Ukraine has dealt a major setback to global food security, sending the price of several staples like wheat, corn and oil skyrocketing, along with the threat of food shortage. Tim Prewitt, president and CEO of The Hunger Project, told The Media Line that food staples are now at risk in the Middle East and North Africa.
The MENA region, which constitutes about 5% of the world's population, requires about 35% of global grain imports. Countries such as Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Yemen, Tunisia and Algeria depend on both warring sides in the current East European conflict to provide half of their wheat imports.
"Both countries are essential food suppliers for low- and middle-income countries in which tens of millions of people are already food insecure," according to Prewitt.
He says the war has created a “global food security crisis,” and that the rise of prices is significant. It will lead to long-lasting food shortages, malnutrition and acute hunger for the people of the region."
Continued at link
Sharp rises in food prices in the past have caused political unrest
By MOHAMMED AL-KASSIM/THE MEDIA LINE Published: MARCH 23, 2022 23:57
Updated: MARCH 24, 2022 00:01
The ongoing war in Ukraine not only caused the disruption of Russian gas and oil supplies, forcing a sharp spike in energy prices, but also cut off all Ukrainian grain exports, 95% of which pass through the ports of the Black Sea. The same is true of Russian exports of grain from the Sea of Azov. This has created a mammoth crisis in global markets, and exacerbated an already severe food crisis.
The military escalation in Ukraine is a threat to global food security, energy supplies and political stability, experts say. This comes on the heels of more than two difficult years in which governments have been dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on food availability. Before the war erupted last month, the coronavirus had been causing a shortage of basic products in North Africa and the Middle East due to worldwide supply chain problems.
Now the Russian invasion of Ukraine has dealt a major setback to global food security, sending the price of several staples like wheat, corn and oil skyrocketing, along with the threat of food shortage. Tim Prewitt, president and CEO of The Hunger Project, told The Media Line that food staples are now at risk in the Middle East and North Africa.
The MENA region, which constitutes about 5% of the world's population, requires about 35% of global grain imports. Countries such as Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Yemen, Tunisia and Algeria depend on both warring sides in the current East European conflict to provide half of their wheat imports.
"Both countries are essential food suppliers for low- and middle-income countries in which tens of millions of people are already food insecure," according to Prewitt.
He says the war has created a “global food security crisis,” and that the rise of prices is significant. It will lead to long-lasting food shortages, malnutrition and acute hunger for the people of the region."
Continued at link