War in Ukraine: The first cargo of grain for Africa has left

It departed from the port of Pyvdevni, Ukraine, while the war the Brave Commander, the first ship with cereals which will arrive at Africa and has been leased by the United Nations.

Grain exports from Ukraine had stopped after Russia invaded the country and closed Black Sea portsdriving up global food prices and raising concerns about possible shortages in Africa and the Middle East.

The UN and Turkey brokered a deal in late July that will allow Ukraine to resume exporting grain through its Black Sea ports, despite the war with Russia.

The Brave Commander, carrying 23,000 tons of grain, left for the port of Djibouti while the supplies are destined for Ethiopia, announced the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on Tuesday (16/8).

“The ministry and the UN are working to find ways to increase food stocks for the socially sensitive sectors of the African people,” Refinitiv Eikon said in a statement.

So far 17 ships have departed from Ukrainian ports carrying more than 475,000 tons of agricultural products.

Earlier the joint coordination center, which Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have set up in cooperation with the UN and has its headquarters in Istanbul, had announced that it had approved the sailing of the Brave Commander.

Ships and their cargoes are inspected before they pass through the Bosphorus.

For its part, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced today that five ships have departed from Ukrainian ports carrying grain and corn, three from the port of Hornomorsk and two from Pivdevni.

The ministry added that four other ships bound for Ukraine will be inspected by the joint coordination center today.