Twenty-five ships carrying 160,000 tons of agricultural products purchased by the UN World Food Program (WFP) under the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative have left the ports of Odesa since the ports reopened.
Marianne Ward, the WFP’s country director in Ukraine, announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports, citing the Interfax Ukraine news agency.
"We have been using the Odesa ports since they reopened. So far, we have sent 25 ships. Another ship will leave this month and another in August," she said.
The WFP was unable to export agricultural products through Odesa ports only during the period from the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative to the establishment of Ukraine's alternative "grain corridor," i.e., from July to October 2023.
"Of course, we are concerned about any damage to port infrastructure. It is crucial for both the WFP and the global community to maintain access to Ukrainian food supplies... At the same time, it is important to note that we insure all our cargoes and ships against war risks," Ward added.
According to her, an additional 40,000 tons of agricultural products will soon be shipped from Ukraine to countries in need. Specifically, corn cargoes will be shipped to Malaysia and Mozambique at the end of July.
