Russian wheat shipments have provided a vital lifeline to many African nations, covering up to 20% of their annual grain requirements, according to Oleg Kobyakov, the director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Liaison Office with Russia.
Kobyakov described the shipments as “timely and efficient,” with estimates suggesting that they met between 6% and 20% of the annual wheat needs of several African countries.
“It was a fairly timely and efficient shipment. According to our estimates, it covered between 6% and 20% of these countries’ annual wheat needs. But let’s be realistic: almost a year has passed, and this wheat has already been consumed. And, unfortunately, the number of hunger zones in the world remains the same. So, the need for free food aid to many countries, either through international organizations or bilateral channels, remains,” Oleg Kobyakov told Russian media.
Kobyakov emphasized that despite this aid, the global hunger crisis remains unresolved.
“Almost a year has passed, and this wheat has already been consumed. Unfortunately, the number of hunger zones in the world remains the same,” he told Russian media.
He also highlighted the ongoing need for international food aid, whether through organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) or bilateral channels. Russia continues to play an essential role in this effort by financing WFP activities to the tune of $60-70 million annually.
“Russia finances the WFP’s activities to the value of about 60-70 million dollars a year. This money is used to buy food, including in Russia, which is then delivered to hunger-stricken areas,” he said.
These funds are used to purchase food, including from Russia especially wheat, which is then distributed to regions struggling with hunger.
While the support has alleviated some of the pressure, the need for sustained humanitarian assistance remains critical, with millions still facing food insecurity worldwide.
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