As part of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's ‘Grain from Ukraine’ humanitarian programme, a ship carrying 30,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat has arrived at the port of Ras Saleef, Yemen, today. This shipment was supported by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) with financial assistance from the governments of the United States, France, and Spain.
According to HUMAN APEAL, more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian help in Yemen. Hunger has reached extreme levels, with 2.3 million children needing treatment for malnutrition. Today 161,000 Yemenis are facing famine; it could be five times more by the end of 2023 if the famine is tackled.
On this occasion, Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff and Chairman of the International Coordination Group for the Prevention of Hunger, said, “The global collateral cost of Russia’s war is rapidly increasing. Yemen has been particularly affected by Russia’s invasion. Wheat is a crucial part of the Yemenis' diet and around 40 per cent of its grain was imported from Ukraine until Russia blockaded our ports”. He added: “Today, we reassure our Yemeni friends that we cared for you yesterday; we care for you today and, if need be, in days to come”.
Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa Programme at the National Democratic Institute, USA and an ambassador of the “Grain from Ukraine” humanitarian programme, added: “The Grain from Ukraine global impact is expanding. This shipment is a quick response to the food crisis in Yemen, as over 20 million people need humanitarian support due to protracted conflict, displacement and economic deterioration, compounded by recurrent natural disasters. We applaud the generosity of the countries that sponsored and facilitated this shipment; we encourage others to pour more resources into the programme so we can reach out to millions more across the globe”.
The GfU programme was launched by President Zelenskyy to provide much-needed assistance to nations affected by the ongoing global food crisis. Since the beginning of its launch, the programme has delivered over 140,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat to Africa’s struggling nations. With 30,000 tons of grain delivered to Yemen, the programme delivery rate will reach 170,000 tons.
