Many people may not even realize this, but Russia and Ukraine both play a major role in global food markets. Both countries are exporters of several of the world’s most important crops: wheat, maize, and barley. Both countries also happen to be huge exporters of sunflower oil, one of the world’s dominant vegetable oils. Some countries – such as India – rely heavily on imports of sunflower oil for domestic food supplies.
So what does this mean exactly?
This means that if the war goes on for quite a while, the world will have a major food shortage. In 2019, around 25% of global wheat exports came from Ukraine and Russia, and about 20% of global maize and barley did as well. They are the source of nearly two-thirds of traded sunflower oil, with Ukraine alone accounting for almost half of global exports.
With a lack of these crops being exported around the world, the prices of these crops will inevitably shoot up, hurting the economy and once again hurting those who suffer from food insecurity.
The war in Ukraine is not only crippling the country of Ukraine and its people, it is also crippling the entire world. This war could possibly create mass hunger and famine, hurting countries all over the world.
I believe that our country must react stronger to this crisis and implement harsher punishments on Russia to stop this war. This is not only a fight to save Ukraine now, it is a fight to save the entire world.
no1-hungry 