The United Nations-chartered grain ship ‘Brave Commander’ will leave Ukraine for Africa in next few days after it finishes loading more than 23,000 metric tonnes of wheat at the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi, a U.N. official said.
Anchored at the port near Odessa, the ship will journey to Ethiopia via a grain corridor in the Black Sea. The deal for the grain corridor was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in late July.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative
Under the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the shipment will be the first humanitarian food aid cargo bound for Africa since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the U.N. deal, all ships are to be inspected in Istanbul by the Joint Coordination Centre which comprises of Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. personnel.
The JCC was established on 27 July 2022 in Istanbul. The JCC was born out of the recognition of the critical importance of global food security, and its significant dependence on the supply of grain and other foodstuffs produced in the region. The Initiative is focused on exporting grain, other foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia, from Ukraine.
Denise Brown, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, told reporters the grain was urgently needed in Ethiopia, and the United Nations would work to ensure continued shipments to countries around Africa that are facing famine and sharply higher food prices.
“On a very, very personal note, for any mothers who might be listening, seeing hunger in a child is very painful. Hunger, malnutrition is physically very, very painful,” Brown, who was previously posted in the Central African Republic, told reporters. “It’s up to all of us to help these children.”
The cargo was funded by donations from the United Nations World Food Programme, the U.S. Agency for International Development and several private donors, reported news agency Reuters.
“The world needs the food of Ukraine. This is the beginning of what we hope is normal operations for the hungry people of the world,” Marianne Ward, World Food Programme deputy country director, told reporters. The relief agency purchased more than 800,000 tonnes of grain in Ukraine last year.
Ukrainian officials have refrained from releasing details of the ship’s itinerary, and when it will sail to Ethiopia, due to security concerns. Ukrainian authorities say 16 ships have departed Ukraine following the deal with Russia to allow a resumption of grain exports from country’s Black Sea ports, after they were stalled for five months due to the war.
