Conflict in Ukraine to Cause Catastrophic Increase in Food Prices

By: Natalie Shomali, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

According to the head of the World Food Programme, David Beasly, Russia’s war in Ukraine is expected to lead to a significant rise in global food prices. 

Ukraine and Russia export around half of the seeds and oil worldwide, and a quarter of the wheat. The conflict in Ukraine has already affected crop production, and increased its prices. 

Beasly stated that countries relying mostly on imports from the Black Sea region could be in trouble due to this war, facing the risk of starvation.

He included that the number of people worldwide at risk of starvation had already increased by 196 million in four years before Russia’s attack on Ukraine, as a result of both Covid-19 and climate change.

Now, many more may face starvation, with both Russia and Ukraine being major exporters for commonly-used foods. 

“The country of Lebanon, 50%, give or take, of their grains, come from Ukraine. Yemen, Syria, Tunisia – and I could go on and on – depend on the country of Ukraine as a breadbasket,” said Beasly.

“Just when you think hell on earth can’t get any worse, it does,” he included.