Por Soraya Rodríguez Ramos

HomeMediaPutin’s War of Hunger: global food crisis and disinformation

Putin’s War of Hunger: global food crisis and disinformation

The war against Ukraine is accelerating a global food crisis. The European Union and the UN have warned that the blockade of ports and the bombing of cereal warehouses during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will sharpen food insecurity and famine to unprecedented levels. 

More than 200 million people in the world depend on grain and grain exported by Russia and Ukraine, considered the “barns of the world”. Russia blames the European Union that cereals cannot come out because of sanctions; however, it is but one more falsehood that Putin and his government are waging their war of disinformation.

The world’s food security situation

Before the war against Ukraine, food insecurity affected more than 800 million people in the world.  The number of people with severe food insecurity rose from 135 million, before the pandemic, to 276 million today. 17 million people were in severe insecurity in Ethiopia, 16 million people in Yemen or 22 million people in Afghanistan, to name a few. World hunger will increase due to Ukraine’s war, its impact on global food chains and rising food, energy and fertiliser prices.

In this context, MEP Soraya Rodríguez Ramos explains to France24.com the situation of food insecurity, the consequences of Putin’s war and possible solutions. “There will be no country far from Ukraine that looks oblivious to the consequences of this war. There is no other: the war must be stopped and for this we must stop its author. Putin must be stopped,” he says.

The European Parliament report on food security in developing countries

On 6 July 2022, the European Parliament’s report on food security in developing countries was adopted, which establishes food security and nutrition as pillars of recovery from COVID-19. The text focuses on the serious consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will add to the already persistent food insecurity and the effects of the pandemic in many third countries.  Many low-income countries rely on Ukraine and Russia, as major exporters on the world food market, for their supply of basic food; and they are more vulnerable to market disturbances and price increases.

In this report, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to develop far-reaching new measures on food security and to implement them in the short, medium and long term and recalls that the EU must guarantee the right to food. The Commission has already started designing alternatives to increase humanitarian aid and food availability. 
It should not be forgotten that the Russian army has stolen more than 600,000 tons of cereal in Ukraine, so border inspection processes must be expedited, Black Sea ports must be unlocked to supply the international market and prevent cereal from rotting. In addition to increasing food insecurity and sexual violence against women, Putin’s war will also have migration consequences and social instability, also associated with rising prices.


View full debate at France24.com

Debate de Soraya Rodriguez en France24.com

How to deal with the food crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine?

Debate con Soraya Rodríguez Ramos

France24.com 23/06/2022

https://www.france24.com/es/programas/europa-hoy/20220623-c%C3%B3mo-enfrentar-la-crisis-alimentaria-derivada-de-la-guerra-en-ucrania

Soraya Rodríguez Ramos

Mujeres al frente es un espacio de reflexión dirigido por la política y abogada española Soraya Rodríguez Ramos. Desde 2019, es diputada del Parlamento Europeo en la delegación del partido Ciudadanos. Desde su escaño de eurodiputada, desarrolla un intenso trabajo como Portavoz de Derechos Humanos del grupo Renew Europe, así como por la defensa de la igualdad y derechos de las mujeres como titular de la Comisión de Igualdad, y miembro de la Comisión de Medio Ambiente, por su compromiso con el cuidado del planeta y la justicia climática.