A string of Russian attacks on port and grain facilities in Ukraine which began over a month ago drawing condemnation from the UN’s top humanitarian official there "There has been almost one attack every other day hitting vital port and grain facilities in Ukraine," said Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown, in a statement on Wednesday.  A Russian drone attack early on Wednesday damaged infrastructure at Ukrainian grain-exporting facilities on the Danube River Ukrainian officials say buildings including grain warehouses oil storage tanks and administrative buildings noted the tragic event had left at least six people injured "It is hugely alarming to hear that the two Ukrainian ports in the Danube River were once again struck during overnight Russian attacks on the Odesa Region," Ms It was the latest attack by Russia on Ukrainian port and grain facilities since Moscow quit the UN-brokered deal that had enabled Ukraine to safely export grain through the Black Sea "Today’s strike on Ukrainian ports was the 21st of such attacks since Russia’s decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative less than two months ago” “It is shocking but since 17 July there has been almost one attack every other day hitting vital port and grain facilities in Ukraine." The grain initiative was struck in July 2022 It enabled the export of more than 32 million tonnes of grain arguing that agricultural exporters were not benefiting as the deal and separate Memorandum of Understanding had laid out have been allowed to sail from Ukraine's Black Sea ports Ukraine is a major global supplier of grain such as sunflower oil The war has caused global food prices to surge and is creating shortages food in Africa and the Middle East Both import large amounts of food from Ukraine "The consequences of this brutal and relentless pattern of Russian attacks are catastrophic for the people of Ukraine and the 345 million people facing hunger worldwide," Ms the Governor of the Odesa region that includes the Danube River ports has said 105 port infrastructure facilities in Ukraine had been damaged and partially destroyed since July 18 the day after Russia quit the Black Sea Initiative "International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure This must stop,” the Humanitarian Coordinator said.  Attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and with Russia’s termination of the Black Sea Initiative are impacting global food prices and affecting the most vulnerable people very little is known about Ukraine today on the world markets” explained Viktor Doroshenko CEO of Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory. “Both in Europe and in Asia buyers are often cautious about Ukrainian products and processors” Viktor and other Ukrainian millers are working hard to change this inspecting the shell of a new storage facility at his milling factory In 2017, Ukraine produced 64 million metric tonnes (MMT) of grain, which included 26 MMT of wheat1 Over 60 percent of this grain will be exported to Europe Asia and North Africa in the 2017/18 marketing year Only a small percentage of this production was including limited market access for processed grain products and insufficient investment in new technology high value products,” Viktor said. “We have a huge potential for processing and then exporting wheat flour.” Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory in Skvyra Ukraine (left) and Viktor Doroshenko in his office (right).Photo: ©FAO/Genya Savilov The Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory turns Ukrainian buckwheat During Soviet times the focus was on drying cleaning and primary processing of grains for local markets whilst now the company produces an ever-expanding range of grain-based products With a declining population in Ukraine and changing consumer preferences the domestic demand for flour has been steadily decreasing for over a decade Millers therefore have to diversify and find new export opportunities Ukrainian wheat flour being turned into pastries at a bakery in Kiev Ukrainian flour exports have been growing since 2010/11 and over 40 per cent of Skvyrskyi products are now exported Investment is being funnelled into expanding volumes marketing and improving the quality of products to meet European and international standards “Only with quality can you win foreign markets” explained Viktor who is now travelling frequently to international trade fairs to expand sales “There are only a few companies that have invested in technologies that can today win the world market with high-quality products.” the factory collaborates with leading global processing technology manufacturers Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory invested in a new production line to process maize and in 2015 they introduced additional lines for processing oats and upgrading lines for buckwheat Control of grain quality at the Skvyrskyi laboratory is a priority (left) and modern packaging technologies for Skvyrskyi breakfast cereals “We are now exporting to the European Union and also countries in Africa”  Viktor said Exports will help support Ukraine’s economy and provide affordable nutritious food to expanding populations in these regions “Since 2010 FAO has been working with the Ukrainian Government European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the private sector to unlock the grain sector’s potential,” said Dmitry Prikhodko Economist in the FAO Investment Centre who led the FAO-EBRD Grain Policy Dialogue Project Leader The results of this dialogue and collaboration have been significant “More than USD 1 billion have been invested by EBRD and its clients in grain production The FAO Investment Centre has also supported the Union of Ukranian Millers since 2015 The Union of Millers brings milling companies together and provides a unified voice for the sector on issues of state policies It also promotes Ukrainian grain products abroad.  “Thank to the cooperation of the Union of Millers and FAO we have managed to enter the export markets of Asia,” Viktor noted trade missions were organized to Hong Kong and Ukrainian products are increasingly being presented in international food shows Skvyrskyi cereals for sale on Ukrainian supermarket shelves (left); and cereal products on display in the Ukrainian national stand at a Hong Kong food show (right) FAO has also been providing guidance to Ukrainian milling companies on quality issues to meet European and international standards. This work is bearing fruit “Today we are moving towards the issue of developing common quality standards for flour as well as for cereal products.” FAO and the Union of Millers have organized training events and conferences to deepen understanding of market opportunities and quality and technological innovations in the flour sector “I sincerely hope that Ukrainian processing will take the leading positions in the world and we will move from grain exports to the export of quality processed grain products.” Investing in agriculture can transform lives, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and eliminate poverty. Working with international partners, FAO has contributed to over 2,000 agricultural and rural investment strategies, policies and programmes in more than 170 countries. The majority of this work is carried out by the FAO Investment Centre An estimated 4.8 million jobs have been lost in Ukraine since Russia’s 24 February invasion according to a brief published on Wednesday by the UN’s labour agency The impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world of work: Initial assessments estimates that escalating hostilities would further affect the economy causing employment losses to soar to seven million However, if the fighting were to cease immediately, the International Labour Organization (ILO) study says that a rapid recovery could return 3.4 million jobs and reduce employment losses to 8.9 per cent Of the more than 5.23 million mostly women and children who have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries approximately 2.75 million are of working age – 43.5 per cent Ukraine has made considerable efforts to keep the national social protection system operational by guaranteeing payment benefits The Ukraine crisis also threatens labour disruptions in neighbouring States – mainly Hungary and Slovakia – as continued hostilities threaten to force the refugees into longer exiles further pressuring labour markets and social protection systems The economic and employment disturbances are having significant ripple effects on Central Asia especially countries depending on remittances from Russia These States are among the top ten countries of origin for migrants in Russia many of whom send significant shares of remittances back to their home nations If hostilities and sanctions against Russia lead to job losses for migrant workers severely triggering economic losses throughout Central Asia as a whole Russia’s aggression also creates a shock to the global economy as it is likely to affect employment and wage growth while putting additional pressure on social protection systems And in many high-income countries that are showing signs of labour market recovery the fallout from the Ukraine crisis may worsen labour conditions and reverse some of their gains The situation is particularly hard in low- and middle-income countries many of which have been unable to fully recover from the COVID crisis In March, ILO passed a resolution calling on Russia to “immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression” against Ukraine expressing its grave concern over the severe impact it has on workers and employers who risked their lives to continue working To mitigate the impact of the crisis on the Ukrainian labour market ILO recommended measures to provide targeted employment support in the comparatively safe areas of Ukraine including by building on the Government-sponsored programme to relocate workers and enterprises It also advocated for employers’ and workers’ organizations to play a role in providing humanitarian support and ensuring the continuation of work Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) brought European and Central Asian countries together to find solutions to the war’s impact on global agrifood systems.  The Europe and Central Asia region includes 53 high- and middle-income countries that are home to more than 900 million people.   Although FAO believes that the region is in a “good position” as one of the world’s food baskets As the UN agency closely monitors the global implications of the Ukraine war it has launched a rapid response plan “to provide life and livelihood-saving” support to farmers inside the war-torn country where one in five households cannot meet their basic food needs.   funding has been insufficient to support the agency’s $115 million plan to reach almost one million individuals.  On the second day of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to Chisinau he drew attention to a migration crisis without refugee camps as 95 per cent of Ukrainians are living with Moldovan families Chisinau in spring – the chestnut trees are in bloom Although it seems peaceful in the capital of Moldova you can hear everyone speaking about the war discussing the latest news from Ukraine and exchanging alarming prognoses Global food prices rose for the first time in months following the collapse of the landmark agreement to ship grain from war-torn Ukraine to the rest of the world the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday The UN agency has issued its latest Food Price Index (FPI) which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals The Index averaged 123.9 points in July driven by an increase in vegetable oil and rice prices FAO's Vegetable Oil Price Index registered a 12.1 per cent jump in July after seven months of consecutive declines Sunflower oil prices rebounded by 15 per cent due to uncertainties sparked by Russia's decision to pull out of the Black Sea Initiative on grain and fertilizer exports together with a parallel accord between the UN and Russia provided a lifeline for hundreds of millions worldwide facing hunger and spiralling food costs including in countries such as Afghanistan and Ethiopia The Cereal Price Index declined by 0.5 per cent in June This was largely the result of two factors: a nearly five per cent drop in coarse grain quotations due to increased seasonal supplies of maize from Argentina and Brazil and potentially higher-than-anticipated production in the United States wheat prices rose for the first time in nine months due to uncertainty over exports from Ukraine and continued dry conditions in North America Meanwhile, rice prices increased by 2.8 per cent in July and by almost 20 per cent over the past year after India prohibited exports. FAO warned that the move "raises substantial food security concerns for a large swathe of the world population, especially those that are most poor and who dedicate a larger share of their incomes to purchase food" The Sugar Price Index declined by nearly four per cent the result of good progress in Brazil's sugarcane harvest improved rains across most growing areas in India and subdued demand from Indonesia and China There was also a 0.4 per cent slide in the Dairy Price Index which is more than 20 per cent below the July 2022 value meat prices dropped 0.3 per cent since June Read the original article on UN News Russian Attacks Continue to Affect World's Most Vulnerable AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals representing a diversity of positions on every topic We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. 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