Zelenskyy To The Rescue In Yemen With Thirty Thousand Tons Of Grain

BUEA, April 17, 2023 – A shipment, supported by the UN World Food Program (WFP) with financial assistance from the governments of the United States, France, and Spain, carrying 30,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat, arrived at the port of Ras Saleef, Yemen on Monday, April 17.

This is the sixth “Grain from Ukraine” ship, a programme launched by President Zelenskyy to provide much-needed assistance to nations affected by the ongoing global food crisis.

Since the beginning of its launch, the programme has delivered over 140,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat to Africa’s struggling nations. With 30,000 tons of grain delivered to Yemen, the programme delivery rate will reach 170,000 tons.

After seven years of conflict in Yemen, one of the most serious humanitarian emergencies in the world is making worse due to the already deep food crisis. The global food crisis, caused by the block on exports from Ukrainian ports to the main importing countries, is now displayed in Yemen territory.

Human Appeal says more than 20 million people need humanitarian help in Yemen. Hunger has reached extreme levels, with 2.3 million children needing treatment for malnutrition. Today 161,000 Yemenis are facing famine; it could be five times more by the end of 2023 if the famine is tackled.

Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, Senior Associate for Africa Programmes at the National Democratic Institute, USA and an ambassador of the “Grain from Ukraine” humanitarian programme, said: “The Grain from Ukraine global impact is expanding.”

“This shipment is a quick response to the food crisis in Yemen, as over 20 million people need humanitarian support due to protracted conflict, displacement and economic deterioration, compounded by recurrent natural disasters. We applaud the generosity of the countries that sponsored and facilitated this shipment; we encourage others to pour more resources into the programme so we can reach out to millions more across the globe.”

Over the last two years, there has been a general reduction in the funds available for humanitarian response in Yemen, which has been exacerbated by the crisis in Afghanistan (August 2021) and now by the crisis in Ukraine. “The outbreak of the war in Ukraine has implicated less focus on other crises and the availability of fewer funds,” Mattia Leveghi, INTERSOS aid worker in Yemen says.

On this occasion, Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff and Chairman of the International Coordination Group for the Prevention of Hunger, added, “The global collateral cost of Russia’s war is rapidly increasing. Yemen has been particularly affected by Russia’s invasion. Wheat is a crucial part of the Yemenis’ diet, and around 40 per cent of its grain was imported from Ukraine until Russia blockaded our ports”. Andriy Yermak said: “Today, we reassure our Yemeni friends that we cared for you yesterday; we care for you today and, if need be, in days to come.”