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US$150 million already raised for Grain from Ukraine initiative

Saturday, 26 November 2022, 15:10

DANA HORDIICHUK, IHOR PYLYPIV – SATURDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2022, 15:36 

Approximately US$150 million has been raised in the course of the International Summit of Food Security for the Grain from Ukraine initiative. 22 countries have already joined this initiative.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a press briefing on Saturday. 

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"In general, under the Grain From Ukraine program, by the end of next spring, we plan to send at least 60 vessels from our ports – at least ten per month – to countries at risk of famine and drought. This is Ethiopia, these are Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Congo, Kenya, Nigeria.," Zelenskyy announced. 

The President has added that one ship with the Ukrainian grain provides the needs of 90,000 people, and 60 ships will be able to prevent at least 5 million residents all over the world from dying of famine.

Taking into account that on average ships with load capacity of 30-40,000 tonnes enter the Ukrainian sea ports presently, 60 ships are projected to be able to transport about 1.8-2.4 million tonnes of food to the countries that need it most.

As of the end of October, 2.6 million tonnes of agricultural products have been sent to the countries suffering from food crises, including 600,000 tonnes to the countries on the verge of starvation.

At the moment, Ukraine has already sent the first 27,000 tonnes of wheat to Ethiopia; another ship headed there is being loaded today.

Meanwhile, 22 countries have already joined this initiative on the day of its founding; another 10 countries have shown their readiness to do so as well.

Moreover, it was reported earlier that Germany will contribute €15 million to this initiative.

Background

  • Ukraine is launching the Grain from Ukraine initiative on the Day of Remembrance of Holodomor Victims [Holodomor refers to the devastating man-made famine that took place in this country in 1932-1933]. According to this initiative, up to 60 ships with Ukrainian grain will be able to go to the poorest countries of Africa. The program envisions providing  at least five million people with grain by the end of spring 2023. 
  • As this program states, Ukraine will direct a part of the collected grain that was intended to be exported to those African and Middle-Eastern countries that already have issues with food supply. Part of the exported grain can be bought by the states participating in the project.
  • On 17 November in Istanbul, it was agreed to prolong the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which provides for the export of food from three Ukrainian ports, for another 120 days.

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