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May 20, 2022

Russia Rejects U.N. Plea to Allow Ukraine Grain Shipments as Global Food Crisis Grows
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Russia has rejected a call by the United Nations to end its Black Sea
naval blockade, which has prevented Ukraine from exporting grain to
world markets. On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres told
the Security Council that Russia's invasion threatens to trigger years
of mass hunger and famine, compounding food shortages caused by climate
change, COVID-19 and inequality.

Secretary-General António Guterres: "The war in Ukraine is now adding a
frightening new dimension to this picture of global hunger. Russia's
invasion of its neighbor has effectively ended its food exports. Price
increases of up to 30% for staple foods threaten people in countries
across Africa and the Middle East, including Cameroon, Libya, Somalia,
Sudan and Yemen."



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