International organizations warn of food crises because of the Ukraine war

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Grains in a wheat mill in Beirut

Photo: MOHAMED AZAKIR / REUTERS

In view of the war in Ukraine, four of the largest international organizations have issued a joint appeal calling for coordinated action to protect the food supply.

There should be no export bans on food or fertilizer, according to the appeal by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the United Nations World Food Program and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

According to the appeal, the war in Ukraine is exacerbating the existing problems caused by the corona pandemic, climate change and other conflicts.

Millions of people are affected worldwide.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke of a three-dimensional crisis that hit food, energy and finance at the same time.

It threatens up to 1.7 billion people, Guterres said when presenting a report.

The economies of many developing countries are in danger.

"The most vulnerable people in the world must not become the collateral damage of another disaster for which they are not responsible," said Guterres.

According to him, 36 countries get more than half of their wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine.

dab/Reuters