Warning from Four International Organizations About Food Security Crisis
Four international organizations are calling on all countries to implement coordinated measures to ensure food security. These organizations have asked countries worldwide to refrain from banning the export of food and chemical fertilizers.
The World Bank, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and World Food Programme, a UN subsidiary organization, issued a statement calling for urgent and coordinated action by countries in the field of food security.
According to Reuters news agency, in this statement released on Wednesday, April 13 (Farvardin 24), countries were asked to avoid imposing bans on exports of food and chemical fertilizers.
The four international organizations emphasize that the war in Ukraine is adding to the mounting pressures resulting from the coronavirus pandemic crisis, climate change, and escalating regional tensions, posing a threat to millions of people around the world.
Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine which began on February 24, the production and export of certain food items have been disrupted. These two countries account for a significant share of global wheat, grain, and oilseed production.
In recent weeks, prices of certain food items in global markets have increased sharply, and some countries have faced declining or halted imports of these commodities.
More Serious Food Security Threat in Poorer Countries
The four international organizations mentioned in their joint statement warn that this situation is increasing pressure on citizens and poses a serious threat, particularly for poorer countries.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) predicted on Tuesday in an analysis of the consequences of the Ukraine war that global gross domestic product will decline. The organization cited the most important causes of this as a sharp increase in food and energy prices and reduced exports from Russia and Ukraine.
The WTO has predicted that poorer countries face more serious risks due to the Ukraine war because they spend a larger share of their income on food compared to wealthier countries.
The World Bank also estimated one day earlier that Ukraine’s gross domestic product in the current calendar year could decline by 45 percent compared to the previous year.
Based on the World Bank’s assessment, following Russia’s attack, activities in Ukraine’s agricultural sector, which is one of the important branches of the country’s economy, have been halted in many areas.
Source: DW
