The United Nations warns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could soon cause a global food crisis that may last for years.
Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, says the war had worsened food insecurity in poorer nations due to rising prices.
Mr Guterres adds some countries could face long-term famines if Ukraine’s exports are not restored to pre-war levels.
The conflict has cut off supplies from Ukraine’s ports, which once exported vast amounts of cooking oil as well as cereals such as maize and wheat.
This has reduced the global supply and caused the price of alternatives to soar.
According to the UN Global food prices are almost thirty percent higher than the same time last year.
Speaking in New York this week, Mr Guterres said the conflict – combined with the effects of climate change and the pandemic – “threatens to tip tens of millions of people over the edge into food insecurity followed by malnutrition, mass hunger and famine”.
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