Continuation of the war means the return of the Great Famine

The New York Times said the ongoing global food crisis was one of the most far-reaching effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which contributed to widespread hunger, poverty and premature death. In a lengthy report, the newspaper reported that huge ships carrying Ukrainian wheat and grain are anchored along the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where they are waiting to be inspected before being sent to ports around the world. The number of ships passing through the Bosphorus has decreased since the beginning of the Russian invasion 10 months ago and the imposition of a naval blockade. Under diplomatic pressure, Moscow began to let some ships through, but continued to restrict most supplies from Ukraine. And in several operational Ukrainian ports, Russian missiles and drones have periodically hit Ukraine’s power grid, knocking out grain terminals where wheat and corn are being loaded onto ships. Ukrainians compare these events to the Great Famine, when Joseph Stalin staged a famine in Soviet Ukraine 90 years ago that claimed millions of lives. Reuters confirms that rising food prices to record highs in 2022 have caused suffering for millions of people around the world, especially poor countries in Africa and Asia, which are already facing hunger and malnutrition. The United Nations World Food Program estimates that more than 345 million people are severely food insecure or at risk, more than double the number recorded in 2019. We are dealing now, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a summit last month. with African leaders in Washington, with a massive food insecurity crisis. According to the report, food shortages and rising prices are causing major crises in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The report indicated that large food-importing countries such as Egypt and Lebanon find it difficult to pay their debts in addition to paying other expenses due to high costs. Even in wealthy countries like the US and the UK, high inflation has left the poor without food.