Monday, October 12, 2026

WFP warns of global hunger over Kakhovka dam destruction

“The massive flooding is destroying newly planted grain and with it hope for 345 million hungry people around the world for whom grain from Ukraine is a lifesaver.”

• June 7, 2023
DAMAGED KAKHOVKA DAM
DAMAGED KAKHOVKA DAM [CREDIT; FOREIGN POLICY VIA MAXAR SATELITE IMAGE]

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of negative consequences for hunger worldwide following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine.

“The massive flooding is destroying newly planted grain and with it hope for 345 million hungry people around the world for whom grain from Ukraine is a lifesaver,” the head of the WFP’s Berlin office, Martin Frick, said on Wednesday.

Following the dam’s destruction in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, Ukraine’s agriculture ministry expects some 10,000 hectares of agricultural land on the northern bank of the Dnipro in the Kherson region to be flooded, according to initial estimates.

On the southern bank, in the Russian-occupied region, many times these areas will be flooded, the ministry announced on its website Tuesday evening.

Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the dam’s destruction. Both sides speak of a “terrorist attack” and an unprecedented environmental disaster.

Mr Frick is not, however, expecting further food price inflation, noting that “world food prices are still at a 10-year high.”

He added, “We cannot afford any more suffering.”

(dpa/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Alex Otti

States

Otti advises Abia residents to reject election-season politicians’ promises

The bishop thanked God for giving Abia the opportunity to be governed by Mr Otti.

NiMet

Heading 3

NiMet predicts three-day rain, sunshine nationwide from Monday

The agency also predicted cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine across the southern region.

States

Environmentalists seek probe into Bayelsa, Rivers tremors

A fruit seller, Benita Douglas, said the vibration broke another trader’s table.

States

Coalition urges investment in girls’ education to end child marriage

Mr Ibn-Attahir said keeping girls in school was essential to ending child marriage.

Hot news Home top

FG condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s airport, urges restraint

The ministry stressed the need to respect Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Uche Nnaji

States

PDP governorship candidate vows free shops for traders affected by Enugu market demolition

Mr Nnaji described trading as an integral part of the people’s economic and social life.