Action Against Hunger strongly condemns the use of the Black Sea grain deal for political purposes and emphasises the importance of its renewal to address the needs of countries grappling with hunger. This statement comes after Russia announced its intention to suspend its participation in the deal, which expired at 9 pm on 17th July.
Nearly 33 million tonnes of food exports have been shipped from Ukraine since the agreement was signed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022, helping to stabilise global food markets and improve access to food.
Anne Garella, Regional Director of Operations for Action Against Hunger in Ukraine, remarks, “Since its inception, the Black Sea grain initiative has helped control the surge in wheat prices on the markets, which had risen by more than 40 per cent in the three months prior to its signing.”
A year and a half after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, staple food prices have either returned to pre-war levels or even decreased compared to 2021. The deal was extended for 120 days in November 2022, then renewed for a further 60 days in March, and another 60 days in May. Each previous expiry date had involved a period of diplomatic wrangling over the terms of the deal and brinkmanship, with Russia threatening to leave unless its demands were met.
The deal was not without its flaws, however. China, Spain, and Turkey were the primary beneficiaries of grain exports from Ukraine, while less developed countries such as Ethiopia, Yemen, and Sudan, where life-threatening hunger is rampant, received under 6 per cent of the total exports.
Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger UK, said this: “It is deeply concerning to see hunger used as a tool in geopolitical conflicts when access to nutritious food should be a global priority.
“The present global hunger crisis is a result of a number of factors: climate change, unstable markets, gender inequality and poverty, to name but a few – and the ending of the Black Sea grain initiative threatens to compound this crisis by driving up the price of food and fertilizer.
“Russia’s decision to withdraw highlights the need to ensure that the production and supply of food are shielded from international conflicts and that longer-term solutions, such as sustainable farming practices, are implemented so that we can have a food supply chain that works for all.”
About Action Against Hunger’s work in Ukraine
To date, more than 480,000 people have received assistance from Action Against Hunger’s programs in Ukraine and its three neighbouring countries (Poland, Romania and Moldova). From the beginning of the conflict, Action Against Hunger’s emergency teams have been responding to humanitarian needs in conjunction with partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Today, Action Against Hunger aims to assist the most vulnerable people in Ukraine and refugees in the three neighbouring countries, with local authorities and organisations. The organisation is adapting its response according to the changing nature of the conflict.