NAIROBI: The United Nations (UN) has warned that the potential collapse of the Ukrainian grain exports deal could have severe consequences for millions of people in the Horn of Africa, where food insecurity is already a pressing issue.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which aims to alleviate the global food crisis, is set to expire on July 17 unless Russia agrees to its renewal. However, Moscow remains dissatisfied with the functioning of a parallel agreement that runs alongside the deal.
Dominique Ferretti, the senior emergency officer in the region for the UN World Food Programme, stressed the importance of the Ukrainian grain exports deal, stating that its failure would have a significant impact on eastern Africa. “There’s a number of countries that depend on Ukraine’s wheat. And without it, you would see significantly higher food prices,” he explained during a video-link press conference from Nairobi.
Ukrainian Grain Deal Signed in July 2022
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian Black Sea ports were blockaded by warships until the grain deal was signed in July, allowing for the safe passage of critical grain supplies. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers of grain, and the agreement has played a crucial role in mitigating the global food shortage triggered by the conflict.
According to the UN, approximately 32.4 million tonnes of grain have been exported so far under the agreement. Corn accounts for slightly over half of the exports, while wheat constitutes more than a quarter.
The initial 120-day agreement, which was signed with the UN and Turkey in July last year, was extended for an additional 120 days in November and further extended until March 18. Meanwhile, the parallel agreement between Moscow and the UN aims to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizers, exempt from Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
However, Russia has consistently claimed that the parallel agreement is not being upheld. On June 13, Russia issued another threat to terminate the deal, alleging non-compliance with certain clauses despite assurances from the UN.
