Russia-Ukraine conflicts to cause hurricane of famine - Guterres

NEW YORK, US

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday of Russia-Ukraine conflicts, which could result in “a hurricane of famine” in many countries.

"Ukraine is on fire” and “the country is being decimated before the eyes of the world”. “We must do everything we can to avoid a hurricane of famines and a collapse of the global food system,” he told media in New York.

Due to the blockage of agricultural production in Ukraine and Russia, the conflict and tension should, in its repercussions, hit “the poorest hardest and sow the seeds of political instability and unrest throughout the world”, underlined Antonio Guterres.

“Grain prices have already exceeded those of the early Arab Spring and the food riots of 2007-2008.” “The FAO (Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) global food price index is at its highest level on record,” he said.

In total, “45 African countries and least developed countries import at least a third of their wheat from Ukraine or Russia – 18 of these countries import at least 50%. This includes countries like Burkina Faso, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen,” said the UN chief, again calling for an end to hostilities as soon as possible.