This will be the first humanitarian food aid shipment within the framework of the Black Sea Grains Initiative signed last month by Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye.
WFP said the development marks “another important step in efforts to reintegrate Ukrainian food into the global market and bring food to the countries hardest hit by the global food crisis.” through both commercial and humanitarian routes.
MV Brave Commander expected to dock shortly at Yuzhny, located on the Black Sea.
Support to cope with drought
The ship departed the Turkish capital Istanbul on Wednesday after receiving approval from the Joint Coordination Center (JCC), the mechanism supporting the implementation of the United Nations-brokered agreement on the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine, check.
The JCC will oversee the operations of commercial vessels transporting grain, food and fertilizers from Yuzhny and two other important Ukrainian ports: Odesa and Chornomorsk.
WFP has purchased wheat for its operations in Ethiopia, helping to respond to drought in the Horn of Africa, where there is a risk of famine.
The United Nations agency recently warned of a dire food insecurity situation across the region, after four consecutive failed rainy seasons.
The Horn of Africa is just one of many regions in the world where a near-complete shutdown of Ukraine’s grain and foodstuffs on the global market has made the lives of families already struggling with hunger increasingly difficult. becomes more difficult.
A record 345 million people in 82 countries are facing severe food insecurity, WFP said. Up to 50 million people in 45 countries are at risk of being pushed into starvation without humanitarian assistance.
UNOCHA / Levent Kulu
M/V Fulmar S, the first commercial grain carrier from Istanbul to Ukraine under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is awaiting the JCC’s motion, pending inspection.
Have a good start
The Brave Commander will discharge wheat in Djibouti after clearing JCC protocols in Istanbul during an overseas trip.
The senior UN official at the JCC told journalists this week it was signed on July 22 and that so far, 12 ships have been allowed to leave Ukrainian ports.
Frederick Kenney, the United Nations Interim Coordinator, said that while there is still much work ahead, “we are off to a very good start”.
Appointed UN Coordinator
On Friday, Secretary General António Guterres announced appointment by Amir Mahmoud Abdulla as the United Nations Coordinator for the Black Sea Grains Initiative.
Mr. Abdulla is a former Deputy Executive Director and Executive Director of WFP, overseeing the organization’s humanitarian activities around the world.
He succeeded Mr. Kenney, who was on loan from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
