Ukrainian grain providing bread for people of Gaza

Ukrainian grain shipped with support from Norway, has arrived in Gaza and will help to ensure access to food for those affected by acute hunger. Under the Grain from Ukraine programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) purchases grain from Ukrainian farmers for its emergency relief efforts in other countries. This supports the efforts of Ukrainian farmers to maintain grain production despite ongoing Russian attacks and helps to ensure access to food for people in need

‘This programme saves lives while maintaining food production. It is crucial for the farmers in Ukraine to be able to sell the grain they produce. For the people of Gaza, every single kilo of grain provides life-saving assistance,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.  

Norway is a key supporter of the Grain from Ukraine programme and has contributed a total of NOK 100 million, of which NOK 50 million is earmarked for Gaza. The funding from Norway has also helped to ensure deliveries of grain to Nigeria and Kenya, which, like Gaza, are experiencing food shortages and hunger. Some 783 million people in the world are facing acute food insecurity, meaning they do not know when, or from where, their next meal is coming. Famine was recently confirmed in parts of Sudan as well.  

‘As the number of people experiencing hunger increases, it is essential to do what we can to maintain global production because that affects food prices. High grain prices affects  those living in the most difficult situations the most. Maintaining grain production in Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion is also important in its own right, so that farmers there can continue to farm their land and more easily scale up production in a free Ukraine.

The significant increase in global hunger is largely driven by war and conflict and is exacerbated by climate change. In Gaza, closed border crossings and severely limited humanitarian access are the main causes of hunger in the population. In Sudan as well, emergency aid is deliberately prevented from reaching those who need it most.   

‘Norway has made it clear that people in need have a right to humanitarian assistance even when war is raging. Humanitarian organisations must have unimpeded access to the population and emergency relief supplies must be allowed in. This is a legal obligation for all parties to conflict, and people  depend on it for their survival,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.