Ukraine supplies a tenth of global wheat exports and about 95% of those exports left the country through the Black Sea ports. Russia has blocked the export of millions of tonnes of grain from these ports. The failure to open these ports could result in famine in parts of Africa.
Large parts of Africa face an "unprecedented food emergency" in 2022, according to the World Food Programme.
Ukraine and Russia account for around one-third of the world's grain supply, and Ukraine was projected to produce more than 80 million tonnes of grain in 2022 -- at least, before the war. Ukraine has also routinely supplied over half of world exports in vegetable oil.
These are staple products, and when prices go up, the poorest are always the most vulnerable.
Since the Russian invasion of 24 February, wheat prices have increased by more than a third. In South Africa, for example, maize prices are up by over 40%, and vegetable oil prices by 75%.
In Ethiopia, food prices rose over 40% in April compared with the same month the previous year. The IMF forecasts that consumer prices will rise by around 12% in sub-Saharan Africa this year -- the highest rate...
