Friday May 12, 2023
UN inspectors of the Joint Coordination Centre go to inspect a grain shipment aboard the merchant vessel LADY SPERANZA under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Istanbul, 17 February 2023. © UN/Duncan Moore
Mogadishu (HOL) - The United Nations-brokered Black Sea Initiative, a global food security measure aimed at assuring the flow of grain, food, and fertilizer amid worldwide shortages, has successfully enabled the safe export of over 30 million tonnes from Ukraine. This significant achievement was revealed during a recent meeting in Istanbul, where the future of the Initiative was a key topic of discussion.
UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths, who attended the meeting, acknowledged the milestone and the Initiative's vital role in global food security. He said, "I congratulate the parties to the deal on reaching the 30 million metric tonnes mark from Ukraine and reiterate the importance of the Initiative for global food security."
For Somalia, a country currently grappling with the worst drought on record induced by the unusual "triple-dip" La Niña weather phenomenon, the Initiative has been particularly beneficial. Nearly 600,000 tonnes of grain have been shipped to support the World Food Programme's humanitarian work in the country. Griffiths remarked, "The contribution of food exports from Russia and Ukraine has been significant, particularly for countries like Somalia that are grappling with severe weather conditions."
However, the future of the Initiative, which provides a safe maritime humanitarian corridor for shipping from Ukrainian ports, hangs in the balance. Griffiths noted that as talks have continued over the past few months about extending the deal, exports have dipped by nearly 30%, with inspection rates dropping significantly. He stressed, "The United Nations will continue to work closely with all sides to achieve the continuation and full implementation of the Initiative."
The importance of this Initiative and
its extension becomes more apparent in light of the fact that Somalia, among other East African countries, relies heavily on the Black Sea Grain Deal for over 90% of its grain supplies. With Ukraine currently facing an unprecedented drought, international aid agencies, like the International Rescue Committee, are urging for a longer extension to the deal, warning of a precarious hunger situation.
Griffiths concluded, "In pursuit of our broader shared commitment to addressing global food insecurity, we will strive to ensure the full and ongoing implementation of the Initiative, crucial for countries like Somalia."