War in Ukraine is causing “catastrophic effect” on global food prices

Samantha Power, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, said on Sunday that the fighting in Ukraine has had an influence on global food shortages and prices.

She added, “Our duty is to look at it globally.”

Power said, “It is just another catastrophic effect of Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”

This comes after US Vice President Joe Biden lobbied Congress on Thursday.

He considered providing Ukraine with an additional $33 billion in aid, including $3 billion for humanitarian help and food security money.

“Food prices, right now, globally, are up 34 percent from where they were a year ago. Aided substantially, again, by this invasion,” Power said.

“So we’ve gone to Congress asking for a substantial increase in humanitarian assistance.”

Further she added, “We really do need this financial support from the Congress to be able to meet emergency food needs so we don’t see the cascading deadly effects of Russia’s war extend into Africa and beyond.”

Many nations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East import a significant amount of wheat from Ukraine.

Their farmers are unable to sow and harvest the crops due to shelling and Russian landmines.

The invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in the closing of Ukraine’s ports, significantly hampered its ability to export these important goods, according to Power.

She continued, “Certainly in terms of effects, not confined to the horrors that the Ukrainian people are suffering,”

But her job is to cater it globally.