The first humanitarian ship chartered by the UN to transport Ukrainian grain left the port of Pivdenny in southern Ukraine on Tuesday with some 23,000 tonnes for Africa, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said.
“
The Brave Commander ship with grain for Africa has left the port of Pivdenny.
This morning, the cargo ship left for the port of Djibouti, where the food will be delivered upon arrival to consumers in Ethiopia
,” the ministry said on Telegram.
According to him, “
23,000 tonnes of wheat are on board this ship chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme
”.
Present at the port of Pivdenny on Sunday, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said he hoped that "
two or three
" additional ships chartered by the UN could leave soon.
Fifteen boats have already left Ukraine
This is the first shipment of food aid to leave Ukraine since the agreements on the export of Ukrainian cereals were signed in July by kyiv and Moscow, mediated by Turkey under the aegis of the 'UN.
The first commercial ship left on August 1, and more than 15 ships in total have left Ukraine since the agreement came into force, according to the count of the Ukrainian authorities.
No UN humanitarian cargo had yet sailed.
Read alsoAgreement on grain exports between kyiv and Moscow
Ukraine and Russia, which are among the world's largest grain exporters, have experienced soaring prices since the start of the war.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), a record 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity, while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are at risk of starvation in case of lack of humanitarian aid.
