The head of the United Nations World Food Program has warned that the war in Ukraine has created what he calls a “catastrophe over another catastrophe”, which he says will have a global impact, unprecedented after World War II.
According to David Beasley, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, one of the main reasons for the rise in food prices is that Ukrainian farmers, who used to produce most of their produce, are now at war with Russia.
The UN World Food Program was feeding 125 million people around the world before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, and Beasley said the United Nations was forced to cut off food supplies due to increase in food, fuel and shipping costs.
He pointed out that in war-torn Yemen, 50% of the 8 million people who used to feed have been cut off, adding that their food stocks are close to the surface.
David Beasley said the war in Ukraine would turn the world’s bread basket into a bakery journey for millions of people, with the war destroying countries such as Egypt, which used to receive 85% of its wheat from Ukraine and Lebanon receiving 81%.
Ukraine and Russia produce 30% of the world’s wheat and 20% of its maize, while the World Food Program buys 50% of its maize from Ukraine, according to David Beasley.
