UN: Concerned about Russia targeting grain shipments

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, answered questions from journalists at the daily press briefing. Pointing to Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ general discomfort with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Haq said: “We are very concerned about the attack on grain and other essential food facilities.” saying.

Recalling that Guterres had previously raised concerns about rising global food prices, the deputy spokesman said that Russian drones targeting the Danube River, Ukraine’s alternative to the Black Sea for transporting grain and other food to Europe, ” will help alleviate price concerns. “It won’t help,” he said.

Emphasizing that the Secretary-General “wants” a return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative or a similar understanding, Haq noted that the attacks in question make this possibility even more difficult.

SEEKING PEACE IN YEMEN FIGHTING WITH FUNGER

Haq said Yemen’s Special Representative Hans Grundberg briefed the Security Council on the latest developments in Yemen.

Recalling Grundberg’s words that the will for a solution has increased in the region, but this still needs to be transformed into concrete steps, Haq shared the information he received from other officials in the region. Haq stated that this year, the UN goal of providing support to 17 million people in need in Yemen is bogged down with the financial problem.

The Deputy Spokesperson shared the information that “The World Food Program recently suspended malnutrition prevention activities in Yemen starting this month and further cuts are expected in the coming months.”

Haq stressed that “the cost will be very high,” especially for Yemeni children, if urgently needed funds are not provided. (AA)