Written by Menai (@chifundomenai) Edited by: Ben Moody (@benbamoody)
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/07/1123062
With an agreement signed in Istanbul, Turkey to reopen Ukraine's Black Sea grain export ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny, grain exports have resumed. Several senior
government representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres signed a document establishing a new centre to export grains, agricultural
products, and fertilisers from Ukrainian ports to international markets. It will be possible for
commercial foodstuffs and fertilizer to be safely transported by merchant ships to three
Ukrainian Black Sea ports: Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny, through the new joint
coordination centre.
According to the UN’s notes to correspondents, the new centre is aimed to: Maintain a
situational awareness in regard to commercial vessel movements so that the Initiative is
followed, Concentrate on bulk exports of grains and food commodities, A guaranteed on-site control and monitoring of cargo in Ukrainian ports, and report providing information on
shipments enabled by the Initiative.
Earlier, this year Russia officially announced their special military operation in Ukraine. This led to nearly 25 million tonnes of grains and other goods halted at the Black Sea ports, stated UN food agency officials on 6th of May 2022. As a result of the intense fighting in the
Southeast of Ukraine, several seaports were out of service as well as being controlled by Russia. With the world during a global food crisis, an alarming number of grains, considering
in 2020 Ukraine is amongst the 5th largest wheat producers in the world. Ukraine exports their grains to over 20 countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia being the largest and most affected importers of Ukrainian grains and affecting the most.
“The deal will prevent billions of people from facing famine and will ease global food inflation,” vocalised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his speech, at the signing of the UN-backed grain export deal signed by Russia and Ukraine.
In his speech, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed concern about global food inflation, due to the cost of food, drink, and transportation contributed to a 78.62% increase in consumer prices last month in Turkey, as well as rising costs for food across the world.
Though the deal does “ease”, the global food crisis, it is likely to be a temporary
“ease”. There are many factors that have caused the current global food crisis, from climate
change to world population growth and many more factors. Ukraine, and Russia signing a deal to reopen grain export ports is a stepping stone to solving the global food crisis, but the deal is a bandage on a leaking pipe.
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