MUNICH, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Failure to renew a UN-backed initiative that allowed Ukraine to export grain from ports blocked by Russia would be disastrous as millions of people in Africa are on the brink of starvation, the director warned on Saturday. from the UN food agency.
Negotiations on extending the trade deal will start in a week, a Ukrainian official said on Friday.
“It’s essential,” World Food Program (WFP) director David Beasley told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Forum.
“With all the crises we are facing in the world with climate change, droughts, flash floods, we cannot afford the Black Sea Grains Initiative to fail,” he added, making reference to the agreement negotiated by the UN. allowing exports from three Ukrainian ports.
The agreement was extended for another 120 days in November and will be renewed again in March, but Russia has expressed dissatisfaction with some aspects and asked for the lifting of sanctions affecting its agricultural exports.
Beasley claimed that the current flow of goods and grain, which according to UN data has particularly benefited the European Union, China and Turkey, is not even close to what he should be.
He warned Moscow that closing ports would be catastrophic, especially in Africa where millions face starvation. “Africa is very fragile right now. Fifty million people (are) on the brink of starvation,” he said.