in ukraine is threatening to unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution . the comment from secretary general antonio guterres comes as russia s foreign minister, sergei lavrov, has denied the conflict is causing a global food crisis, despite soaring prices driven by the collapse of ukrainian exports. our global trade correspondent dharshini david has more ukraine s crops can usually feed 400 million mouths, but russia stands accused of turning that breadbasket into a stealth missile. 90% of grain typically leaves by ship, but most are stuck in fields or silos as blockades at ports slow exports to a trickle. my friend, how are you? the russian foreign minister was in turkey to discuss how grain corridors, a safe passage for ships, could be created, but was making no commitments nor accepting any responsibility. translation: to solve this problem, the only thing needed
where civilians struggle to survive under relentless russian fire. if russia was to amplify the northern and eastern fronts, it would undoubtedly stretch limited ukrainian resources. president zelensky has appealed for more military help. longer range rocket launchers have been promised by the uk and others, but time is of the essence. explosion wyre davies, bbc news, kharkiv. the united nations is warning that the war in ukraine is threatening to unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution . the comment from secretary general antonio guterres comes as russia s foreign minister sergei lavrov has denied the conflict is causing a global food crisis, despite soaring prices driven by the collapse of ukrainian exports. our global trade correspondent dharshini david has more. ukraine s crops can usually feed 400 million mouths, but russia stands accused of turning that breadbasket into a stealth missile. 90% of grain typically leaves
90% of grain typically leaves by ship, but most are stuck in fields or silos as blockades at ports slow exports to a trickle. my friend, how are you? the russian foreign minister was in turkey to discuss how grain corridors, a safe passage for ships, could be created, but was making no commitments nor accepting any responsibility. translation: to solve this problem, the only thing needed is for the ukrainians to let vessels out of their ports, either by clearing mines or by marking out safe corridors. nothing more is required. ukraine is one of the world s largest exporters of cereal crops and oils. before the war, 12% of global wheat exports came from ukraine, almost half of sunflower oil, and it provided around 18% of maize exports. but with most of these being transported by sea, the amount being exported has slumped.
our global trade correspondent dharshini david joins me. the head of the world trade organisation gave you the interview, 0rganisation gave you the interview, what evidence has she got to be sounding alarm bells? herr; sounding alarm bells? very stark words from sounding alarm bells? very stark words from her, sounding alarm bells? very stark words from her, she sounding alarm bells? very stark words from her, she is sounding alarm bells? very stark words from her, she is saying - sounding alarm bells? very stark words from her, she is saying it i words from her, she is saying it could be a food crisis which lasts years, not months, unless action is taken. usually ukrainian crops can feed 400 million miles, but russia stands accused of turning that breadbasket into a stealth missile, because of all of the blockading of the ports, the exports have slowed by about 80%, which is really worrying for countries like libya and egypt which are really reliant on ukrainian grain but it i
it would undoubtedly stretch limited ukrainian resources. president zelensky has appealed for more military help. longer range rocket launchers have been promised by the uk and others. but time is of the essence. explosion. wyre davies, bbc news, kharkiv. there s increasing concern about the knock on effect of the war in ukraine across the world. the country is a major grain exporter, and today, the head of the world trade organization, ngozi okonjo iweala, has told the bbc she fears a dire situation worldwide if it s not able to get its harvest out. she spoke to our global trade correspondent dharshini david. very stark words from her. she s saying we could face a food crisis that lasts years, not months, unless swift action is taken, and here s why. usually ukrainian crops can feed 400 million mouths, but russia stands accused of turning that breadbasket into a stealth missile because all those blockaded