RussIan-Ukrainian War Prolongs, UN Secretary General Calls For Support To End Food Crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right) shakes the hand of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Lviv (Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Staff via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged rich countries "to open wallets and hearts" to those bearing the brunt of the global food crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

Guterres visited the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday, August 19, to oversee grain shipments, a day after he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv City.

"It's time for big and generous support so developing countries can buy food from these ports and others --- and people can buy it," Guterres said.

According to him, every ship that carries food is also a "ship of hope" for the most vulnerable people and countries in the world.

The military conflict that began in late February has disrupted global agricultural exports from Russia and Ukraine, fueling high international prices.

However, as many as 25 ships loaded with thousands of tonnes of agricultural products have left Ukraine since a landmark food export deal was reached last month.

The deal to reopen three Ukrainian Black Sea ports was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. Guterres called the export deal "unprecedented" but said "there is a long way to go on many fronts."

"But don't forget that what we see here in Odesa is only the more visible part of the solution," he said.

Another important endeavor that the UN is also striving for is unhindered access to global markets for unsanctioned Russian food and fertilizers.

"It is important that all governments and the private sector work together to bring these commodities to market," Guterres said.

On Saturday, Guterres is also scheduled to carry out inspections of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, which was set up as part of the grain deal.