United Nations published this video item, entitled “Ukraine, Black Sea Grain Initiative, Kenya & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (16 August 2022)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General
– Black Sea Grain Initiative
– Kenya
– Internet Governance
– Myanmar
– Mali
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Cuba
– Uzbekistan
– Minamata Convention
SECRETARY-GENERAL
At the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelinskyy of Ukraine, the Secretary-General will be in Lviv on Thursday to attend a trilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkïye and the Ukrainian leader.
The Secretary-General will then go on to Odesa, where he will visit the port that is one of the three being used as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Before returning to New York over the weekend, the Secretary-General will be in Istanbul to visit the Joint Coordination Centre set up to implement the initiative. As you will all recall, this initiative is part of a deal that also includes the facilitation of Russian grain and fertilizer exports on to the global market.
BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE
Linked to that initiative, the first maritime shipment of Ukrainian wheat for humanitarian operations run by the UN World Food Programme left Ukraine today. It is another important milestone in efforts to get much needed Ukrainian grain out of the conflict-hit country, back into global markets, and to countries worst affected by the global food crisis.
The shipment of 23,000 metric tons of wheat will go to WFP’s humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa where the threat of famine stalks the drought-hit region. It is one of many areas around the world where the near complete halt of Ukrainian grain and food on global market has made life even harder for families already struggling with rising hunger.
According to the World Food Programme, a record 345 million people in 82 countries are now facing acute food insecurity while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support. The World Food Programme notes that with commercial and humanitarian maritime traffic now resuming in and out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, some global supply disruptions will ease with relief for countries facing the worst of the global food crisis. Crucially, WFP says it will allow Ukraine to empty its grain storage silos ahead of the summer season harvest.
WFP said that despite these positive developments, the world still faces an unprecedented food crisis. They stress that immediate action is needed that brings together the humanitarian community, governments, and the private sector to save lives and invest in long term solutions.
KENYA
On Kenya, I just want to flag to you that a very short while ago the Secretary-General spoke by phone with William Ruto, and will try to speak with Raila Odinga tomorrow, based on Mr. Odinga’s own availability.
The Secretary-General expressed his admiration for the way the Kenyans conducted these elections and hopes the process is concluded soon within the existing constitutional and legal framework.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=16%20August%202022
United Nations YouTube Channel
Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.
