Russia and Ukraine are the two largest countries of their respective continents (Asia and Europe), and home to large swaths of chornozem or black soil, some of the world’s most fertile soil. The presence of this soil has allowed both countries to operate as global breadbaskets, supplying 30% of the entire world’s wheat and barley. However, Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the culmination of an eight-year political struggle between the two sovereign states, has had major consequences: the number of Ukrainian refugees has surpassed five million people, and as many as seven million internally displaced people now struggling to receive quality nutrition; Ukraine and Russia have suspended a part of their food export to some countries; Europe and significant geographic regions throughout the world have been forced to grapple with the major threat of food insecurity. 

            There are several explanations for the current dilemma.

            First, days into the invasion, Russian artillery and cruise missiles started targeting Ukrainian food storage facilities and farming equipment and reportedly damaged or destroyed more than 20 fuel depots and refineries. This destruction of critical civilian infrastructure has made it extremely difficult to sow crops for future harvest, ultimately leaving soil heavily harmed and mined in the affected regions. Second, after the Russian Federation managed to set up a blockade of Ukraine’s ports at the Black and Azov Seas, it was impossible for Ukraine to deliver food to its partners. In addition, the war has disrupted supply chains, increased inflation, and raised global fuel prices. These consequences are bound to have long-term effects on the global economy. They also contribute to the already existing threat to global food security previously exacerbated by COVID-19. 

            Food prices are up 34% according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a protracted war will only exacerbate already visible symptoms, chiefly in the Middle East and Africa. David Beasley of the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned the United Nations Security Council that the war of Russia against Ukraine will further impact the welfare of the poor two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. UN Secretary-General Guterres estimates that 1.7 billion people worldwide face the risk of hunger and starvation with many in developed countries facing shortages. 

                                                                    Recommendations

              Countries must stand together; otherwise, hunger is imminent. First, states must look for alternate suppliers and supply routes of fuel, food, and fertilizers. Second, people in need must be provided with uninterrupted access to food which has to be redistributed fairly. Done unequally, malnutrition will further deteriorate the physical and cognitive capabilities of the most socially unprotected groups. Third, international organizations like the WFP and FAO together with local counterparts must further reinforce collective funds to provide access to money and food for the regions in need. And most importantly, the world must work together to prevent the Russian government from further violence in which the Russian military deliberately commits crimes against humanity in Ukraine and challenges food security everywhere else. The cost of war inevitably outweighs any economic fallout through sanctions because peace, freedom, security, and human lives are priceless. Much like with COVID-19, the world must realize the following idea also applies to peace and security: nobody is safe until everyone is safe.

                                                                      References 

DW News. (2022, March 29). Briefing by David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP), on food security and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. UN Security Council special session on protecting Ukraine's territorial integrity. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3WIflNIdsc

FAO. (2022, April 8). FAO Food Price Index. Retrieved April 15, from: https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ 

Guarascio, F. (2022, April 12). EU plans to counter Russia with food diplomacy in North Africa, Balkans. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-plans-counter-russia-with-food-diplomacy-north-africa-balkans-2022-04-12/ 

Hryb, D. (2022, April 14). The war in Ukraine threatens to cause a global food crisis. Ukraїner. https://ukrainer.net/food-crisis/ 

Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. (2022, April 4). Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Conflict hits Ukraine’s agriculture and global food prices. https://minagro.gov.ua/en/news/ukraine-russia-conflict-conflict-hits-ukraines-agriculture-and-global-food-prices

Evgeniy Petkevich. Drone shot of Motherland monument and the city of Kyiv. Retrieved from: https://www.pexels.com/photo/drone-shot-of-motherland-monument-and-the-city-of-kyiv-9955064/

Reuters. (2022, March 10). Russia to suspend grain exports to Eurasian Economic Union until Aug 31. https://www.reuters.com/business/russia-suspend-grain-exports-eurasian-economic-union-until-aug-31-2022-03-10/ 

Reuters. (2022, April 7). Russia says it destroyed fuel storage facilities in four Ukrainian cities. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-destroyed-fuel-storage-facilities-four-ukrainian-cities-2022-04-07/ 

UNCHR (2022, April 15). Ukraine situation. Global Focus. Retrieved April 15, 2022 from https://reporting.unhcr.org/ukraine-situation

UNCTAD. (2022, March 16). The impact on trade and development of the war in Ukraine. https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/osginf2022d1_en.pdf 

UN Geneva (2022, April 13). Ukraine war unleashing a 'perfect storm of crises’, warns UN chief. https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2022/04/ukraine-war-unleashing-perfect-storm-crises-warns-un-chief

United Nations. (2022, April 13). UN Global Impact of war in Ukraine on food, energy, and finance systems. Brief #1. https://news.un.org/pages/global-crisis-response-group/