KYIV.UkrgateGate , 8 , June , 2022 | Society.
Millions of people could starve to death if Russia does not lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, warned Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Mayo .
The next few weeks will be crucial to resolving the global food crisis, Di Mayo said after a virtual meeting attended by Mediterranean countries, as well as Germany’s G7 presidency and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
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“I want to make it clear that we are waiting for clear and concrete signals from Russia, because blocking grain exports means taking millions of children, women and men hostage and dooming them to death,” Di Mayo said.
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Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib told ministers that rising fuel and basic food prices were exacerbating the crisis in his country.
He called for the war in Ukraine to be “stopped at all costs”, adding that, if this is not possible, “stakeholders … must be pressured to allow the safe export of grain and other goods without delay”.
“The world cannot remain in the grip of military crises in Europe or other parts of the world,” said Bo Habib.
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Russia, which invaded Ukraine on February 24, is blocking grain exports from Ukraine’s seaports. The aggressor state demands the lifting of some sanctions in exchange for “unblocking” exports by sea.
According to Ukrainian authorities, it is about 22 million tons of grain.
Western officials have accused Moscow of using the threat of famine as a weapon.
