Russian attacks continue to affect world’s most vulnerable: UN
The UN says attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and, with Russia’s termination of the Black Sea Initiative, are impacting global food prices and the most vulnerable people.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for secretary general Antonio Guterres said this at a news conference in New York on Monday.
The Danube port of Izmail, in the Odesa Region, was attacked on August 2. The attack damaged facilities storing thousands of tons of food grain.
“The secretary general also condemned Russia’s intensification of attacks on Ukrainian ports, calling for the immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” he said.
The Black Sea Initiative enabled the export of millions of metric tons of food from Ukrainian ports, and together with the UN’s parallel accord with Russia on the export of food and fertiliser, had been vital for global food security and price stability, including in areas hit hard by conflict and hunger, such as Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen.
Denise Brown, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, visited Izmail port on Saturday, three days after the attack.
“The thousands of tons of grains that were damaged would have been enough to feed approximately 66 million people for a day,” she said. “Relentless attacks by Russian forces on grain stores and port infrastructure in Ukraine form an extremely alarming pattern of harm and may constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
Meanwhile, across Ukraine, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to sound the alarm about the plight of civilians already facing a dire situation, as the intensification of attacks affecting critical civilian infrastructure in the country will likely worsen the humanitarian needs, according to Mr Haq.
According to OCHA, the $3.9 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023, launched earlier this year, aims to reach some 11.1 million people across Ukraine with assistance.
However, at the end of July, it had only been about 30 per cent funded, impacting humanitarians’ efforts at providing aid to those in need.
(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
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
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.”
Politics
Ondo lawmakers boycott plenary, demand speaker’s resignation over N9 billion OSOPADEC budget
Olatunji Ifabiyi, the spokesperson for the Ondo State House of Assembly, says lawmakers will not hold a plenary until the speaker, Olamide Oladiji, resigns.
States
Gunmen assassinate former chief security officer in Rivers
The police command in Rivers has confirmed the killing of the former chief security officer of Khana council area, Letam Kine.
Economy
Kaduna riders brave rain, bad roads to keep livelihoods afloat
For many riders, however, staying away from work is not an option. They continue to navigate Kaduna’s roads daily, driven by the need to feed their families.
States
Three alleged Ogun fraudsters arraigned for multimillion-naira business scam
On Monday, the police charged three men before a magistrate’s court in Ota, Ogun state, for defrauding a man of N4.3 million.
Sport
Gov Namadi orders Hadejia stadium rehabilitation
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa has reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots sports development.
Rights
What Nigerians need to know about Silk cigarettes Tinubu ‘can’t do without’
“We don’t respond to gossips,” a presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala, told The Gazette.
