NEWS STORY : UK Calls on the Black Sea to be Open
STORY
The Government has called on the Black Sea to become open, saying that Russia’s gestures are inadequate. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, speaking at the UN Security Council on famine, said that the number of people facing acute food insecurity had increased from 193 million to over 250 million in just two years. She criticised recent interventions by Russia, saying:
“The Black Sea Grain Initiative got nearly 33 million tonnes of grain into world markets. Russia’s decision to end the initiative has raised food prices hitting the world’s hungriest people. Russia’s offer to give 50,000 tonnes of grain to each of six countries will not bring grain prices back down, nor help those facing famine in other countries.”
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States and Council President for the month, said that hunger must not be used as a weapon by the Russians. Every member of the United Nations should tell Moscow “enough using the Black Sea as blackmail, enough treating the most vulnerable people as leverage, enough of this unjustified, unconscionable war”.
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