In Ukraine, people in 80% of the populated areas near the front line are experiencing obstacles in accessing food, according to Matthew Hollingsworth, the representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Ukraine. He stated this during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Hollingsworth mentioned that approximately one in five Ukrainian families is currently facing some degree of acute food shortages, especially near the conflict zone.
Over 900,000 people living within a 30 km radius of the front line are experiencing the most urgent food needs, which intensify during the winter, he added. Hollingsworth emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people living in close proximity to the conflict zone, in one of the world's most significant granaries, now depend on humanitarian and food aid.
WFP will provide food assistance to around 750,000 of these people throughout the winter. Another 1.5 million individuals will receive cash assistance in areas directly affected by the hostilities.
The WFP representative reminded that by February 2022, Ukraine accounted for 9% of the world's wheat exports, 15% of corn, and 44% of sunflower oil. Currently, Ukraine has incurred losses in the agricultural sector amounting to $40.2 billion.
"We all need to focus our efforts on meeting the urgent needs of this country, particularly in the longer-term perspective, to ensure that this agricultural hub is quickly restored and can help those in hunger around the world because when the next food crisis erupts, the world will again need Ukraine," highlighted Hollingsworth.
