For African leaders meeting in Kenya for the African Development Bank Annual Meeting this week, it will be vital to collectively support those nations still at risk of food insecurity. A longstanding partner of many African nations, Ukraine, has a proud history of serving as a ‘breadbasket’ for many countries struggling to find stability. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, fertile plains across Ukraine have been turned into scorched battlefields; grain silos have been deliberately targeted and bombed; and bustling ports ferrying Ukrainian exports across the Black Sea to Africa have been bombarded and blockaded. This has resulted in catastrophic economic and human losses not just for Ukraine, but for countries across the world reliant on Ukrainian imports. Disruptions to supply chains caused by Russia’s invasion has brought at least 70 million people worldwide to the verge of starvation. Many of these shipments, due to go to those nations in Africa, are under real pressure to reach their African partners whilst evading Russian bombardments.
It will be vital for leaders at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya this week to collectively support those nations still at risk of food insecurity. A combination of natural phenomena and human conflict has resulted in 150 million people on the continent being at risk of hunger, according to the Red Cross. With vital Ukrainian shipments under threat, much needed aid is less certain to arrive and with it the risk of regional insecurity heightens. African nations must find a way to demonstrate their collective leadership and send a clear message to Russia that these shipments cannot be impeded.
Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ plan
Even after two years of conflict and devastation, Ukraine continues to do all it can to maintain its role as the world’s breadbasket and prevent extreme hunger and starvation in Africa.
In November 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ humanitarian initiative as part of his wider Peace Formula. This programme has been responsible for coordinating and delivering crucial food supplies to these countries in Africa whose populations face severe food insecurity and risk exacerbating regional instability.
Kenya has already worked in hand with Ukraine to support the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative, with President William Ruto meeting Zelenskyy at the 78th UN General Assembly late last year. An agreement was made to establish ‘grain hubs’ in Kenya to help tackle food insecurity, marking a key step in helping ensure ‘Grain from Ukraine’ is able to operate effectively for those most in need.
In Sudan, which is grappling with a devastating ongoing armed conflict and the world’s largest internal displacement crisis thus far, half of its 50 million people need food aid. The work of ‘Grain from Ukraine’ is evident here as in March, a shipment of 14,076 tonnes of wheat flour landed in Port Sudan to support two million Sudanese from food insecurity. Food security is a fundamental human need, and the Ukrainian ships navigating barrages in the Black Sea represent a critical lifeline for those most in need across Africa. As a collective, we must recognise the commitment Ukraine has shown to preventing extreme hunger and starvation. So as African leaders meet to discuss the most pressing issues we face, food security must be at the top of the agenda. If we allow this lifeline to be threatened, and for food security to backslide across the continent, we consign ourselves to dealing with the same issues of the past. Instead, our focus should be on delivering our ambitious vision for the future.