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How the Ukraine crisis is fueling a “perfect storm” for food insecurity

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People all over are feeling the pinch, whether that’s due to rising energy bills, inflation, or oil prices creeping up. Anecdotes about the cost of pasta going up in shops and the eye-watering price of water are constantly being swapped, and that was before the conflict in Ukraine began to have an effect on the cost of living.

Transport issues and the region’s contribution to food and energy supplies have meant that Europe is feeling the strain. But this effect is rippling out far beyond the continent and has a devastating impact further afield.

Food insecurity is set to become an even more worrying trend, with 1.7 billion people at risk of increased poverty due to the crisis – one that was already brewing before the conflict.

WHAT EFFECT IS THE UKRAINE CRISIS HAVING ON THE REST OF THE WORLD?

Millions of people in Ukraine have been displaced by conflict, whether that’s being forced to flee the country or leave their homes within Ukraine. Those who have left face an uncertain future, those who stayed are struggling to find shelter and food and avoid danger. The world has watched in horror, and many have been affected by the plight of Ukrainians, but the conflict is having a ripple effect on people’s daily lives thousands of miles away.

Ukraine and the Russian Federation are among the world’s “breadbaskets” in that they provide around 30% of the world’s wheat and barley. Thirty-six countries import more than 50% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine, including Pakistan, Somalia, Lebanon, Turkey, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, and Burundi – all countries that Concern Worldwide works in. For example, Sudan imports 86-87% of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, which has become particularly vulnerable.

In addition to its wheat and barley supplies, the region provides one-fifth of the world’s corn and over half of the world’s sunflower oil, which is primarily used for cooking. The Russian Federation is also the world’s top natural gas exporter and second-largest oil exporter, and alongside neighboring Belarus, exports a fifth of the world’s fertilizers.

Just two months after the conflict began, this had a dire effect on already struggling communities. Somalia, which relies on Ukraine and Russia for nearly 90% of its wheat, is already struggling with a devastating drought, which has killed livestock across the country and is decimating access to water, food, and income. Meanwhile, according to AFP, in Sierra Leone, a 110lb bag of rice that previously cost around $28 has risen to $34 – an increase of around 20%. In addition, at the end of March, Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) increased the ceiling prices for petrol and diesel by 34% and 40%, respectively, compared to January, citing the “deteriorating geopolitical situation in Europe” as the reason.

On the 8th of April 2022, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published its third record food price index and noted that food prices are 34% higher than this time last year. And with crude oil and gas prices also rising, it is too expensive to transport goods – creating another barrier to nutrition.

“A PERFECT STORM”

This situation would be difficult under any circumstances, but rising food prices are coming after a series of challenges that have already increased costs, reduced income, and exacerbated instability.

According to the United Nations Task Team for the Global Crisis Response Group (UNGCRG), school closures due to the pandemic have led to losses of up to 17 trillion dollars in lifetime earnings for this generation of students. In addition, since 2019, the number of people experiencing hunger has increased by 46 million in Africa, around 57 million in Asia, and around 14 million more in Latin America and the Caribbean. An additional 77 million more people live in extreme poverty. Meanwhile, climate change is also impacting the lives and work of millions, with pastoralists struggling to recover from weather shocks and access the resources needed to adapt.

It is expected that 1.7 billion people – 553 million of which are already poor, and 215 million are already undernourished – are severely exposed to at least one of the Ukraine crisis’s three global channels of transmission: rising food prices, rising energy prices, and tightening financial conditions. That is one-fifth of humanity.

However, among that number, there are 1.2 billion people in 69 economies who are particularly vulnerable to all three channels of transmission, for whom the crisis will be even more devastating.

According to United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres, the UNGCRC’s report on the global impact of the Ukraine crisis on food, energy, and finance systems “shows that there is a direct correlation between rising food prices and social and political instability. Our world cannot afford this. We need to act now.”

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

The UNGCRG report outlines several policy recommendations, urging the world to act with urgency to help those most affected. Under their food policy recommendations, here are five suggestions for world governments to consider.

To ensure sufficient supplies of nutritious food are available for all people.

This involves ensuring that food supplies are available, including diversifying sources of supply in import-reliant countries, reducing loss and waste of food throughout supply chains, enabling smaller food producers to maintain their livelihoods and contribute to food production, and keeping freight prices stable. Countries with large food stocks are also asked to support countries in need.

To enable all vulnerable people to access and make use of the food they need

This suggestion involves implementing social protection interventions to promote well-being and protect the most vulnerable’s food security.

To enable all people everywhere to access humanitarian food assistance when necessary.

Concern Worldwide is among the NGOs that aim to enable people to access nutritious food when they need it. The report also calls for the exemption of food purchases by the World Food Programme for humanitarian assistance from food export restrictions.

To adopt sound policy responses based on local needs, national priorities, and evolving market conditions.

This recommendation encourages the proper functioning of commodity markets to maintain a smooth flow of trade in food and agricultural products amidst uncertainty by tracking market conditions and identifying potential disruptions early. It also recommends that supply chains be kept fully operational and that trade restrictions and export bans should be ceased.

Access to finance

This recommendation encourages the proper functioning of commodity markets to maintain a smooth flow of trade in food and agricultural products amidst uncertainty by tracking market conditions and identifying potential disruptions early. It also recommends that supply chains be kept fully operational and that trade restrictions and export bans should be ceased.

CONNECT WITH US

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about any aspect of our work, please get in touch with us using the details below.

Media Contact: Candance Patel-Taylor, Vice President of Communications at Candance.pateltaylor@concern.net or 312-690-3793.