Another U.N. ship leaves Ukraine with wheat for Ethiopia

Another chartered vessel by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), has left Ukraine’s Chornomorsk Black Sea port with around 30,000 tonnes of wheat on board for Ethiopia.

According to the United Nations’ estimates, Ethiopia is on the verge of a food crisis. The UN said three ships carrying more than 90,000 tonnes of wheat are en route to Ethiopia and Yemen from Ukraine in collaboration with the World Food Program.

Ukraine’s grain exports have decreased significantly since the war began with Russia because its Black Sea ports, a crucial route for shipments, were shut down.

This has increased the price of food globally and raised concerns about shortages in Africa and the Middle East.

A record 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support.

With commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic now resuming in and out of Ukraine’s Black Sea Port, some global supply disruptions will ease with relief for countries facing the worst of the global food crisis.

Three Black Sea ports were unblocked at the end of July under a deal between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.