Erdoğan hailed a crucial grain agreement as a triumph against looming global hunger crisis, underscoring the gravity of the food shortages exacerbated by recent conflicts in Türkiye.
President Erdoğan hailed a crucial grain agreement as a triumph against the looming global hunger crisis, underscoring the gravity of the food shortages exacerbated by recent conflicts in Türkiye. He emphasized the imperative of international cooperation in addressing this pressing issue.
“At the United Nations’ urging, our joint initiative in the Black Sea prevented a potentially catastrophic global hunger crisis. We successfully facilitated the shipment of an astounding 33 million tons of grain products to world markets,” Erdoğan announced in a video message delivered during an event jointly organized with Ankara and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on October 16.
The breakthrough pact, forged in July 2022, granted Ukraine the authority to export grain and other essential food supplies from three Black Sea ports. However, complications arose this July when Russia interjected, invoking secondary sanctions on shipping, banking, and insurance. The situation escalated further with intensified assaults on Ukraine’s crucial port infrastructure.
In a determined response, Ukraine established a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea, allowing over 20 vessels to exit its ports, bypassing Russia’s blockade.
Erdoğan underscored Türkiye’s ongoing commitment to aiding regions teetering on the brink of famine, with a special focus on Africa.
In a diplomatic maneuver, Erdoğan, during his early September visit to Sochi, initiated discussions with Russia and Qatar regarding a collaborative initiative to provide African nations with 1 million tons of Russian wheat free of charge.
“Türkiye, renowned for its unparalleled generosity in terms of development aid, stands ready to shoulder the responsibility of alleviating the food and water crisis,” he affirmed.
Erdoğan’s message also extended an invitation to global leaders to take proactive measures aligned with the “zero loss in food” objective, an integral part of the “zero waste” campaign spearheaded by the First Lady, Emine Erdoğan.
The President additionally cited FAO assessments, revealing that one in nine individuals worldwide grapple with hunger, despite an annual food production of up to 5 billion tons. He attributed this stark contrast to the staggering wastage of 21 tons out of every 127 tons of food generated globally per second.