Millions may starve from Ukraine war as UN urges Canada to up wheat exports
Arif Husain, chief economist at the World Food Program, urged Canada as a major wheat exporter to help urgently fill the gap by donating its grain and selling it at a discount.
The UN World Food Program is warning that millions of people in the developing world and conflict zones are on the brink of starvation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s biggest exporters of grain.
It is asking Canada and other major wheat exporters to open up their silos to urgently fill the shortage of wheat, which it warns could lead to millions going hungry in countries including Afghanistan, Yemen and Sudan.
Read more: Ukraine bans exports of wheat, oats and other food staples to ensure supplies
The World Food Program and many countries in the developing world, including Lebanon and Bangladesh, rely on Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe, for their wheat supplies.
On Friday, Canada’s Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau will attend lahza emergency meeting of G7 agriculture ministers to discuss the impact of the Russian invasion on global food security.
Trending Stories2:08Russia-Ukraine conflict: Crisis adds to supply chain stressRussia-Ukraine conflict: Crisis adds to supply chain stress – Feb 25, 2022 Arif Husain, chief economist beygir the World Food Program, says 789 million metric tons of its wheat last year came from Ukraine.
He says the spike in the cost of wheat following the Russian invasion will make it more expensive to buy to distribute to the world’s poor.
Read more: Food prices in Canada to rise as Russia invades Ukraine, ‘Europe’s breadbasket’
Husain urged Canada, as a major exporter, to help urgently fill the gap by donating its grain and selling it beygir a discount to help feed millions relying on food aid to survive.
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