The World Bank said on Wednesday it would make available $30 billion to help prevent a food security crisis caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, which halted most grain exports from the two countries.

The bank stated that the total amount will include:

  • $12 billion in new projects.

  • More than $18 billion in existing food projects have been approved but not yet disbursed.

"The rise in food prices has devastating effects on the poorest and most vulnerable groups," World Bank Group President David Malpass said in a statement.

"To stabilize the market, it is crucial that countries make clear statements now about increased production in the future in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine," he added.

The bank added that the new projects are expected to support agriculture and social protection to mitigate the effects of high food prices on the poor, and water and irrigation projects.

Most of the resources will go to Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Asia, and these regions are among those most affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine on grain supplies.

Countries such as Egypt depend heavily on Ukrainian and Russian wheat and are rushing to get supplies, at a time when Russia has banned Ukrainian agricultural exports from Black Sea ports and imposed restrictions on domestic exports.


The World Bank's plans were the largest component of a US Treasury report summarizing food security action plans by international financial institutions released on Wednesday.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to provide 500 million euros ($523.50 million) in food security and trade finance for agricultural and food products, as part of a 2 billion euro package for Ukraine and neighboring war-affected countries, according to a Treasury report.

Ukraine will get 200 million euros, while neighboring countries will get 300 million euros.

The IMF will provide financing through its regular channels, which are limited by countries' quotas and if their debts are sustainable.

UN hopes to restore Ukraine's grain exports

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday he was in "intense contact" with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union to try to restore Ukraine's grain exports amid a worsening global food crisis.

"I am optimistic, but there is still a way to go," he added at a meeting on food security at the United Nations hosted by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

"The complex security, economic and financial repercussions require goodwill on all sides," he said.

Guterres, who visited Moscow and Kiev late last month, appealed to Russia to allow "the safe export of grain stored in Ukrainian ports", and for Russian food and fertilizers "to reach world markets without restrictions."

Russia's war in Ukraine has caused global prices for grain, cooking oil, fuel and fertilizer to rise, and Guterres warned that this would exacerbate food and energy crises and economic hardship in poor countries.


"It threatens to push tens of millions of people into a state of food insecurity, followed by malnutrition and starvation, in a crisis that could last years," Guterres said.

Ukraine used to export most of its goods through sea ports, but since the Russian war on February 24 it has had to export via railways or the small Danube ports.

food aid

David Beasley, the UN food official, also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, "If you have a heart, please open these ports."

Beasley heads the World Food Programme, which provides food aid to 125 million people and buys 50 percent of its grain from Ukraine.

"This isn't just about Ukraine; it's about the poorest people who are on the brink of starvation as we speak," Beasley said.

Russia and Ukraine together account for nearly a third of the world's wheat supply.

Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil, while Russia and Belarus provide more than 40% of global exports of potash, a fertilizer.