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EU blames Russia for food crisis
European Council President Charles Michel is accusing Russia of using food supplies as “a stealth missile against developing countries” and blaming the Kremlin for the looming global food crisis. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia walked out of Monday's Security Council meeting to protest what his deputy called Michel's “rude” comments.
Michel addressed Nebenzia directly at the council meeting, saying he saw millions of tonnes of grain and wheat stuck in containers and ships at the Ukrainian port of Odessa a few weeks ago.He said that was “because of Russian warships in the Black Sea,” and Moscow's attacks.
Two UN food agencies are warning of multiple, looming food crises on the planet.Climate “shocks”' including droughts and flooding, the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine were cited as why food and fuel prices were rising so rapidly.
The stark warning was issued jointly Monday in a report by the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization.WFP Executive Director David Beasley said besides hurting “the poorest of the poor,” the global food crisis threatens to overwhelm millions of families who are just getting by.The report said six nations faced catastrophic conditions: Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia.
