KYIV/ISTANBUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The ship Brave Commander has left the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi, carrying the first cargo of humanitarian food aid bound for Africa from Ukraine since Russia's invasion, Refinitiv Eikon data showed on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s grain exports have slumped since the start of the war because of the closure of its Black Sea ports, driving up global food prices and sparking fears of shortages in Africa and the Middle East.Three Black Sea ports were unblocked last month under a deal between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, making it possible to send hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Ukrainian grain to buyers.
World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley said the most important step in combating hunger globally is the opening of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Further cargoes are likely to deliver food aid to countries in the Middle East and Horn of Africa, she said, adding that WFP was looking at all options to transport food out of Ukraine.
Turkey’s defence ministry said that five ships, including the Brave Commander, left Ukrainian ports on Tuesday carrying corn and wheat, three from Chornomorsk and two from Pivdennyi. That lifts the total number of ships to leave under the deal to 21.