Toba Owojaiye, Reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
In a bid to address the pressing food crisis affecting over 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria, Ukraine has extended a helping hand by donating a substantial 25,000 tons of wheat to the nation.
This move comes as a significant boost to the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) ongoing efforts in the region, amidst soaring inflation and food price spikes.
Truth Live News gathered that the generous contribution is part of Ukraine’s humanitarian initiative dubbed “Grain from Ukraine,” spearheaded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The impact of this initiative reaches far beyond the borders of Ukraine, as it seeks to alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity in conflict-affected areas.
Facilitating the shipment required a collaborative effort from various nations including the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Republic of Korea, and Sweden. These countries played a pivotal role in covering the transportation costs and ensuring the timely distribution of the wheat to the families in dire need.
David Stevenson, the WFP representative and Country Director in Nigeria, expressed gratitude to Ukraine and its partners for their unwavering support through the Grain from Ukraine Initiative. He emphasized the crucial role of collective action in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by the region, including conflict, food insecurity, and economic instability.
The wheat donation will complement WFP’s ongoing humanitarian operations, which include providing cash and other essential commodities to meet the basic food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected populations for a two-month period.
Cynthia Rowe, the British High Commission Development Director, stressed the importance of supporting vulnerable populations during these challenging times, emphasizing the UK’s commitment to alleviating food insecurity and promoting peace in Nigeria.
The northeast region of Nigeria has been plagued by deadly conflicts and persistent violence, displacing millions of people and disrupting agricultural activities. WFP remains dedicated to collaborating with the government and partners to build resilient and inclusive food systems, with a focus on emergency assistance, self-reliance, and long-term food security measures.
Through its “Out of Conflict into Solutions” approach, WFP aims to address the immediate needs of vulnerable groups while fostering sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of conflict and promote resilience in the face of adversity.