“Grain from Ukraine” sends 1000 tonnes of four to Palestine

AMMAN — Amman witnessed the ceremony marking the shipment of 1,000 tons of Ukrainian flour to the Gaza Strip within the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, on July 10, 2024, according to a statement to The Jordan Times. 

Myroslava Shcherbatiuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Jordan, as well as heads of diplomatic missions of France, Austria and Norway as donor countries and the representative of the World Food Programme in Jordan took part in the ceremony.

In her speech, Shcherbatiuk emphasised: "We hope that this shipment will help the people of the Gaza Strip receive the essential food and will demonstrate our solidarity. Ukraine stands with the people of the Gaza Strip, supports the two-state solution to this decades-long conflict, where both states - Palestine and Israel - should live side by side in peace and security."

The cargo reached the Gaza Strip on July 18. In total, Palestine will receive 7,000 tonnes of wheat flour and 750 tonnes of sunflower oil within the “Grain from Ukraine” programme. 

“Despite the Russian aggression and the constant threat of further attacks on the Ukrainian people, we remain resolute in supporting those who are also suffering. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the victims of the war in Palestine do not suffer from hunger,” said Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, according to the statement.

Within the framework of the programme which is implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme, Ukraine sent more than 221, 000 tonnes of agricultural products to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, Mozambique and D.R. Congo. The programme is going to expand and will include other countries.

The mechanism of the “Grain from Ukraine” programme provides for the direct purchase of agricultural products by the participating countries from Ukrainian companies and their transfer to the countries which are on the brink of famine. Ukraine’s partners who joined the programme allocate finances for purchasing vessels with Ukrainian grain which will be shipped to the most vulnerable people and countries free of charge. 

Feeding the world has deep meaning to the Ukrainian nation which survived genocide by starvation called Holodomor perpetrated by Stalin and the Soviet Union 90 years ago. Annually, Ukrainians mark its anniversary commemorating 4.5 million of its victims.