Russia Accused Of Using Food As A Military Weapon

United Nations has warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine could force up to 49 million people into starvation or famine-like conditions due to its destructive impact on global food supplies and pricing, in the latest alarming warning about food insecurity.

Ukraine has long been known as one of the world’s breadbaskets, because to its fertile soil and vast agricultural lands. However, Russia’s unjustified attack is straining Ukraine’s food production and exports. The repercussions can be felt all across the world.

According to the UN, Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports has already raised global food prices and threatens to produce a global food scarcity.

What’s Going On?

Because to the war, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forecasts that between 20 and 30 percent of Ukraine’s agricultural land would remain unplanted or unharvested this year.

This is mainly due to Russian control of huge swaths of Ukraine’s agricultural territory in March, delaying the sowing season (about half of the area planted with winter wheat and around 40% of the area planted with rye).

But the war is also causing worker shortages, because of the vast numbers of people who have fled their homes or become involved in the volunteer units of Ukraine’s armed forces.

International sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its invasion of Ukraine have had an impact on world gasoline, fertiliser, and agricultural supplies.

So, What About The Grain That Has Already Been Harvested?

Russia has been accused by Ukrainian authorities and some international officials of depriving the country of grain and other goods in areas it controls.

Russia has “taken roughly 600,000 tonnes of grain” from Ukrainian farmers, according to Denys Marchuk, vice chairman of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council Public Union.

He claimed the grain was stolen from seized areas of southern Ukraine and transported to ports in Russian-controlled Crimea, notably Sevastopol, before being shipped to the Middle East.

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