Because of the repercussions of the war on Ukraine, a UN agency warns of exacerbation of famine in the world

The United Nations World Food Program warned - Friday - of a food crisis in the war-affected areas of Ukraine, and of the risks of exacerbating famine around the world, due to the suspension of production and export of products such as grain, as a result of the military operations launched by Russia on its western neighbor.

The Food Program said - in a statement - that reports indicate a serious shortage of food and water in the capital, Kyiv (north) and the city of Kharkiv (east), around which battles are taking place between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Speaking during his visit to the border between Poland and Ukraine, World Food Program Director David Beasley said the war in Ukraine could push the global food crisis to unprecedented levels.

The UN agency said that it is likely that serious disruptions in production and exports will lead to a rise in food prices, which have reached an all-time high.

It added that this would "undermine the food security of millions of people, especially those who are already on the brink of starvation due to the high levels of food inflation in their countries."

Global grain markets fear the repercussions of the war, as Russia and Ukraine contribute about 30% of the total global exports of wheat.

The two countries also export about 20% of total corn exports, and about 80% of sunflower oil exports.

food prices

For its part, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced on Friday that global prices of food commodities reached a record level in February, driven mainly by vegetable oils in light of a limited supply exacerbated by the Russian war on Ukraine.

The FAO food price index increased last month by 3.9% compared to the previous month, reaching 140.7 points, compared to 135.7 points in January, according to a statement by the organization.

Grain prices rose globally to unprecedented levels as a result of the repercussions of the Russian war on Ukraine, as the prices of wheat contracts on the American Chicago Stock Exchange rose to the nearest term, reaching the highest level in 14 years.

This brings the rate of rise in wheat prices since the beginning of last February to 40%.