Millions destined for starvation, warns UN
Global food catastrophe is brewing, Davos forum told, as Kremlin accused of ‘weaponising supplies’
‘What do you think will happen if you take a nation that normally grows enough food to feed 400 million and you sideline that?’
‘The costs of further breakdown would be enormous. More people will embark on perilous journeys to seek opportunity elsewhere’
HUNDREDS of millions of people are “marching to starvation” after Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine unleashed the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, the head of the UN’S World Food Programme has warned.
David Beasley condemned Russia for “a declaration of war on global food security” after it blocked Ukrainian grain exports, and said that 325 million people are at risk of going hungry as a result. Around 43 million most in danger are already “knocking on starvation’s door”, he said.
Ukraine is the world’s fifth-largest exporter of wheat, fourth-largest exporter of corn and leading exporter of sunflower oil, with most of its crop going to developing countries.
Mr Putin has prevented shipments from leaving Ukrainian ports, while Western officials say his army has deliberately destroyed agricultural equipment and harvest stores.
Speaking to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Beasley called the impending disaster “the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War”, with a huge wave of migration to Europe likely to follow as hunger rises.
He said: “What do you think is going to happen when you take a nation that normally grows enough food to feed 400 [million] and you sideline that?
“You add fuel costs, food costs, shipping costs – it is devastating.”
David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy, said 1.7 billion people in 94 countries are at risk of severe hunger as food prices surge.
He said: “This cost of living crisis could lead to the worst set of economic and social challenges we’ve seen in four or five decades.”
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said the country is in talks over establishing food corridors to export its grain and accused Russia of stealing thousands of tonnes of grain.
Mr Zelensky told the global elite in Davos that he had held discussions with several countries about setting up export routes for wheat, grain and sunflower seeds. He said Baltic sea ports could be used to transport the crucial food supplies. Railway transport was another option, he said via videolink, with talks progressing with its “friendly neighbours” over access to ports.
“We are talking about how to use their facilities, their seaports on the Baltic,” he said, adding “there is no single one-sizefits-all solution”.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister and deputy prime minister, urged the West to help establish a “safe passage” to allow almost 25 million tons of grain to leave the country and ease global supply fears, after the Kremlin destroyed agricultural equipment and blocked vital export routes.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “We need the assistance of our international partners, to secure our exports through the sea ports.”
Russia’s own food exports have also plunged, adding to the chaos in world markets and the shortages particularly biting in poor countries. So far this year Russia’s grain exports are down 20 per cent, according to Interfax, at 38.5 million tons. Global wheat prices are up almost 60 per cent so far this year, representing a threat to all food supplies.
Robert Habeck, Germany’s economy minister, also warned of a brewing global food “catastrophe” and accused the Kremlin of weaponising supplies. He said: “The task here at Davos is for us to recognise that hunger is being used as a weapon.”
Lithuania last night pushed for a naval coalition “of the willing” to escort commercial ships and end the Russian blockade around Odesa. Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Lithuanian foreign minister, proposed the plan during talks with Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary. Britain gave its backing to the project, Mr Landsbergis told The Guardian.
Christine Lagarde warned rising food and energy prices act like a “tax” on hard-pressed families in the eurozone.
The president of the European Central Bank said rampant inflation caused by imported costs effectively shrinks the economy, slashing households’ earning power and sending money to food and energy exporters. Kristalina Georgieva, the Bulgarian managing director of the international Monetary Fund, said “the anxiety around access to food at a reasonable price globally is hitting the roof ”.
Separately, in a blog posted on the organisation’s website, she warned of a “confluence of calamities” shattering global supply chains, with the situation at risk of being made worse by Governments blocking trade in the name of food or energy security.
♦ Denmark is sending Harpoon longrange anti-ship missiles to Ukraine. The weapons could help against Russia’s food blockade in the Black Sea. Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, said: “I’m especially grateful to Denmark, which announced today that it will provide a Harpoon launcher and missiles to help Ukraine defend its coast.”