Failing to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative means millions more children around the world will face devastating hunger, warned Save the Children.
The expired deal, signed in July 2022, had previously opened vital export routes from Ukraine, ensuring the movement of nearly 33 million tons of grain and food staples to 45 countries, with developing nations benefiting the most. The initiative stabilized the market, reduced food prices, and secured supplies for vulnerable children, but its non-renewal is set to exacerbate the global food crisis and put millions of lives at risk.
“Today’s failure to renew the Black Sea Initiative is a life-threatening blow to millions of children in Africa and the Middle East who rely on grain staples. The deal acted as a lifeline for countless boys and girls battling hunger, and not renewing it will have catastrophic consequences,” warns Nana Ndeda, Humanitarian Advocacy, and Policy Lead at Save the Children.
THE RISK
Ukraine and Russia collectively supply 30% of the world’s wheat, with over 25 African countries importing more than one-third of their grain from these nations. Countries like Somalia, which imports almost all its wheat from Russia and Ukraine, are particularly at risk. The drought-stricken nation is projected to witness around 1.4 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition this year.
“In Somalia, hunger is already a harsh reality for many children, and the failure to renew the grain deal will bring deadly consequences. Despite this decision being made miles away from our country, its impact will ripple down to families in Somalia, leaving parents struggling to feed their hungry and malnourished children,” says Binyam Gebru, Save the Children’s Deputy Country Director for Programme Development and Quality in Somalia.
THE COUNTRIES
The interruption in grain deliveries will also severely affect economically fragile countries in the Middle East and North Africa that heavily depend on grain imports. Lebanon, which imports over half of its wheat from Ukraine, is grappling with the worst economic crisis in a century, leading to alarming food insecurity among 46% of Lebanese families.
“Lebanon now faces the world’s highest food price inflation, with an astonishing 352%. The disruption in wheat and grain supplies will further worsen the situation for many families, forcing thousands of boys and girls to go hungry. Urgent action is needed to prevent Lebanon from falling into a tragic hunger emergency,” urges Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Children’s Country Director in Lebanon.
Tunisia, where half its wheat is imported from Ukraine, is also bracing for the effects of the lapsed Black Sea Grain deal. Rising grain prices have already strained families’ ability to afford bread. A disruption in wheat imports threatens to exacerbate poverty and hunger, particularly among children.
Save the Children urgently calls for action to restore trade routes from Ukraine to mitigate the worst global food crisis in decades. More than 800 million people worldwide are facing hunger, with millions of children’s lives on the line.
The organization has been actively working in countries grappling with food crises. It provides emergency nutrition to children and implementing long-term solutions for more resilient food systems. Immediate action is needed to stave off hunger for millions of boys and girls facing devastating consequences.
