Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has promised that his country will do all it can to send more grain to Africa, meant to help ease the growing hunger crisis on the continent, despite Kyiv’s own internal crises in the face of a war with Russia.
Speaking to African journalists from Kyiv on Monday, November 28, 2022, Via Zoom, Ukraine Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, disclosed that the program is intended to lift at least five million Africans out of the growing food insecurity crisis, which has been worsened by Russia’s invasion of his country.
According to him, Ukraine held the International Summit on Food Security last week, with the participation of over 20 world leaders, and raised almost US$150 million for the program. The special program, “Grain from Ukraine”, was initiated by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, and coordinated by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak.
Through the program, “Ukraine plans to ship at least 60 large vessels,” Kuleba disclosed.
According to him, Ukraine launched the “Grain from Ukraine” humanitarian program in November, which will provide essential food products to the most vulnerable until spring 2023, and they plan to supply at least 5 million people across the African continent as part of this humanitarian effort. This will be possible through the dispatch of 1 to 10 ships per month during 2023.
African countries expected to benefit from the donations include Ethiopia, the Republic of Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Nigeria.
“Ukraine has been and remains the world’s top sunflower oil exporter, and our grains constitute a large share of world markets. Our agricultural exports are vital for many countries in the African continent. Before the full-scale war, Ukraine supplied more than 15% of the world’s corn exports, 10% of wheat, 15-20% of barley, and more than 50% of sunflower oil,” Kuleba revealed.
“Despite the war in the country and all the difficulties, we remain committed to maintaining food security in the world,” he said.
Minister Kuleba said he wants to deepen his country’s ties to Africa and expects African countries to join them in the quest for peace.
