For millions of people around the world suffering from food insecurity the past years have been extraordinarily difficult, with global hunger and malnutrition reaching never before seen levels.
Conflict, climate change and COVID-19 pushed the number of people living in food insecurity to 828 million in 2021.
That was before Vladimir Putin’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine caused a massive additional shock to the global food system. His war of aggression has triggered increases in the cost of food, fuel, and fertilizer, causing the biggest cost-of-living crisis in the 21st century. This cost is being borne disproportionately by Africa, by far the hardest hit region in the world, where 20% of people face hunger every day.
While we help Ukraine and its brave people in the face of unjustifiable and unprovoked aggression, the European Union and Canada will not turn their backs on our partners in the Global South, and their most vulnerable citizens. Since the beginning, we have stepped up our solidarity and actions to address the global food crisis, while aiming to enhance the Global South’s food security and autonomy in the long-term.
Russia’s state-controlled propaganda has tried to suggest that the sanctions against Russia are the cause for the growing food and nutrition insecurity. Nothing could be further from the truth.
By destroying Ukraine’s agricultural and transportation infrastructure, mining agricultural land, and severely limiting trade through the Black Sea, Russia has intentionally risked the lives of the most vulnerable people in the Global South and jeopardized international food trade and security. President Putin’s campaign of hunger is being waged against the Global South and millions of lives hang in the balance.
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We know that many countries rely heavily on Russia and Ukraine for their agricultural commodities. We also understand that food price inflation reduces the purchasing power of the poor, increasing poverty and hunger around the world.
Addressing the current situation requires that we forge closer partnerships for global solutions. Canada is working with other G7 members to support a global response through the Global Alliance for Food Security. Canada has also been a major contributor to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, which is a multilateral fund to support low-income countries’ efforts to implement national agriculture and food security strategies.
The EU has launched the Global Gateway strategy, Europe’s offer to build sustainable links and strengthened partnerships based on common values. The EU, its Member States, and Canada continue to step up emergency relief and support for initiatives to boost local food production and create sustainable, more resilient food systems.
We are working to keep markets open and get Ukrainian grain out to the countries that need it most. It is estimated that the EU will spend €7.7 billion by 2024 on its response to global food insecurity – and contributions from individual Member States adding to this amount. In addition to $824 million provided in 2021 for programs to strengthen food security, Canada announced a surge of $250 million to support food security in Africa at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda.
Ahead of the G20 Development Ministerial meeting in September in Indonesia, with food security high on the agenda, and COP 27 in November, the EU and Canada are steadfast in our commitment to end hunger and bring food security to vulnerable people everywhere.
But we know we cannot do it alone. To echo UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, we know that this crisis demands that we act “together, urgently, and with solidarity”. We are committed to working with our partners across the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa to support efforts to fight hunger and build more resilient food systems ready to withstand external shocks, like those created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the impacts of climate change, such as drought, flood, pests and diseases.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan is Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada and Jutta Urpilainen is European Commissioner for International Partnerships.
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