UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday of the risk of a Russian war in Ukraine which could lead to “a hurricane of famines” in many countries, the Organization urgently releasing 40 million dollars to help the most vulnerable Ukrainians.
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“Ukraine is on fire” and “the country is being decimated before the eyes of the world”. “We must do everything we can to avoid a hurricane of famines and a collapse of the global food system,” he told media in New York.
Due to the blockage of agricultural production in Ukraine and Russia, the war should, in its repercussions, hit “the poorest hardest and sow the seeds of political instability and unrest throughout the world”, underlined Antonio Guterres .
“This war goes far beyond Ukraine,” he also said.
“Grain prices have already exceeded those of the start of the Arab Spring and the food riots of 2007-2008”. “The FAO (Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) global food price index is at its highest level ever,” he said.
In total, “45 African and least developed countries import at least a third of their wheat from Ukraine or Russia — 18 of these countries import at least 50%. This includes countries like Burkina Faso, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen,” the UN chief said, again calling for a halt. as soon as possible hostilities.
As humanitarian needs ‘rise rapidly’ in Ukraine, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths announced $40 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in order to “reach the most vulnerable people” in Ukraine.
“Almost 2 million people are forcibly displaced in Ukraine. Many are unable to leave their homes due to heavy fighting in cities such as Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kiev,” says a statement from his services, which have recorded “24 attacks on health facilities” to date.
“In the face of this grim and worsening crisis, we are mobilizing a massive relief effort,” Mr Griffiths said in the statement. “These funds are essential to start operations immediately. In the early days of our response, fast and flexible funding can make all the difference,” he said.