Ongoing Russian aggression doesn’t slow President Zelenskyy’s global relief programme.
25 April 2024, Kyiv, Ukraine – 14,600MT of wheat flour from Ukraine has arrived in Sudan to support two million people dealing with severe hunger and food shortages as the country grapples with the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
The shipment is being distributed by the UN World Food Programme to areas of the country most in need and is the second shipment to Sudan delivered through President Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative. The first shipment arrived in February, carrying 7,000MT of wheat flour, and supported one million Sudanese people affected by the ongoing conflict.
The delivery from Ukraine is a lifeline for the Sudanese people, with the World Food Programme warning the conflict risks triggering the world’s largest hunger crisis. Almost 18 million people are facing acute food insecurity and around 3.8 million Sudanese children under five years old are malnourished.
As Ukraine enters a third year defending itself against Russia’s illegal and barbaric war, it remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations around the world through global humanitarian relief. Other recent shipments include 25,000 tons of wheat delivered to Nigeria in February 2024, which provided emergency assistance to 1.3 million people.
Ambassador Abdul Raouf Ali Amer, Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the latest shipment of wheat flour from Ukraine; “This is the second shipment of wheat flour from Ukraine as part of the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative. We thank the Ukrainian people for their ongoing support, which is proving invaluable in alleviating food gaps and supporting our people through this current difficult period.”
Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelenskyy, stated: “While the Russian Federation ramps up its attacks on civilian Ukrainian infrastructure, ignoring the constraints of law or reason, Ukrainian farmers are persevering through conflict and devastation to support vulnerable populations around the globe in their hour of need. Even as we continue to battle against Russian aggression, we remain determined to meet our commitments to those facing severe hunger.”
To welcome this second shipment of grain the Ukrainian Ambassador to Egypt, Nahornyi Mykola, visited the World Food Programme’s warehouses in Port Sudan, met with families who are receiving the wheat flour from Ukraine, and said: “Sudan is in a spiral of food insecurity. Ukraine’s ongoing support is vital for those on the brink of starvation. Even while Ukraine deals with its own aggressive war and the existential threat against their own people, it is maintaining its role as a global food producer.”
The ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative, launched by President Zelenskyy in 2022 in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, delivers Ukrainian grain to countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East at risk of famine.
Ukraine’s shipments via the Black Sea, despite threat of attack from the Russian Navy, demonstrate Ukraine’s determination to maintain its role as an international aid provider to other nations. Ukraine plans to continue expanding its global relief programme to other countries and will include other food products.