A third of the people in Ukraine and 60 percent of the displaced in the country fear that they will not be able to find enough food for their families. Aid convoys have been banned from Mariupol for two weeks. World Food Program (WFP) representatives say the last supplies of food and water will soon be exhausted.
“It’s one thing when people suffer the ravages of war. It’s another thing when they are left to starve,” WFP chief David Beasley said Friday after his visit to Ukraine. The program calls on employees to give access to people in besieged cities. About 100,000 people are likely to remain in Mariupol and the last supplies of food and water will soon be exhausted. The situation in the cities in the east of the country is also worrying.
Grain threatens to spoil
Transport by water is also a challenge for the food supply. According to the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture, 57 cargo ships carrying a total of 1.25 million tons of grain and oilseeds are not allowed to leave the port. The shelf life of the food depends on the condition of the holds. If grain and oilseeds remain on the ships for more than three months, they run the risk of spoiling. Grain exports by train have also come to a halt as a result of the war.
To date, WFP has supplied food to approximately 1.4 million people in Ukraine. For example, people whose villages had still been fighting until recently were given boxes of rice, canned meat, noodles and oil. In April, 2.3 million people need to be supported.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
