Global Courant
The United Nations has urged the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul to expedite the clearance of ships under the Black Sea Grain Agreement that releases ships to export Ukrainian grain.
No ships have been allowed to travel to Black Sea ports since June 26, according to a UN statement. Under the terms of the deal, Russian and Ukrainian inspectors must clear ships for passage. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of obstructing traffic.
“We note with concern that no new ships have been admitted to the Black Sea Initiative since June 26, despite the submission of 29 applications to the Joint Coordination Centre,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.
There are only 13 ships left in the initiative, Haq said, and they are “either loading in Ukrainian ports or en route to or from Istanbul”.
“Every day counts,” he said. “Without new ships participating in the Black Sea Initiative, a million or more tons of food will remain stranded between now and leading up to July 17,” when the current deal expires.
“The parties must ensure that additional ships are allowed to navigate the maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, which serves as a global food security lifeline,” Haq continued, adding that the start of the harvest season “underlines the urgency.”
Haq said 2 million tons of foodstuffs were exported in June, well below port capacity and industry demands.
Some background: The Black Sea grain deal was first reached in July 2022.
Russia blocked vital grain exports from key Ukrainian Black Sea ports, meaning millions of tons of Ukrainian grain were not exported to the many countries that depend on it.
The impact of the war on world food markets was immediate and extremely painful, especially as Ukraine is a major supplier of grain to the World Food Programme. According to the European Commission, Ukraine accounts for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market and 13% of the barley market. It is also a major global player in the sunflower oil market.
The Food and Agriculture Organization, a UN body, warned at the time that as many as 47 million people could be pushed into “acute food insecurity” by the war. Western officials accused Russia of using food as a weapon.
The deal — brokered by the United Nations and Turkey with Russia and Ukraine — created procedures to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.
