The first cargo ship chartered by the United Nations to transport Ukrainian grain for humanitarian purposes left the port of Pivdeni, southern Ukraine, today bound for Africa. This was announced today by the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure, quoted by France Presse.
"The ship "Brave Commander" (Brave Commander) with grain for Africa has sailed from Pivdeni on its way to Djibouti, from where the food will be delivered to consumers in Ethiopia," the ministry announced in Telegram.
According to the data of the department, 23,000 tons of wheat were loaded on board this ship, hired by the World Food Program of the United Nations.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, who was at the port of Pivdeni on Sunday, said he hoped "two or three" additional ships chartered by the United Nations could depart soon.
Five ships with agricultural products left Ukraine
This is the first cargo of food aid to leave Ukraine since agreements on the export of Ukrainian grain products were signed in July between Kyiv and Moscow, brokered by Turkey and under the auspices of the United Nations.
They were blocked because of the war between the two countries.
The first merchant ship left on August 1, and so far a total of more than 15 ships have left Ukraine since the agreement took effect, according to Ukrainian authorities, but no UN humanitarian aid cargo ships have yet set sail.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world's biggest exporters of grain products, whose prices have soared since the start of the war.
According to the UN's World Food Programme, a record 345 million people in 82 countries are currently facing acute food insecurity, and up to 50 million people in 45 countries are at risk of starvation without humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Twitter, as quoted by TASS, that five vessels with agricultural products sailed from Ukraine today.
According to the data of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, in addition to "Brave Commander" from Ukraine, "Propus" (Propus) carrying 9,100 tons of wheat for the Romanian port of Constanta, "Osprey S" (Osprey S) with 11,500 tons of corn for Iskenderun in Turkey sailed , "Ramus" (Ramus) with 6100 tons for another Turkish port - Karasu and "Bonita" (Bonita) with 60,000 tons of corn for Incheon port in South Korea.
cargo ship
UN
Africa