“They barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.”
[Feb.27.2022] The UK Telegraph raised concerns on the 21st (local time) that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could cause a serious food crisis in the Middle East and North Africa.
Russia is the largest exporter of wheat in the world, while Ukraine has significantly climbed the ranks in grain exports. Families in North Africa and the Middle East who already face skyrocketing food prices could see the cost of staple items climb even higher if supply chains are disrupted.
In the Middle East and North Africa, food prices are at a 10-year high, reaching levels comparable to those during the Arab Spring, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, said, “We’ve had volatility in the market even in the past few days, because of worries of potential conflict. The price of grains has started to fluctuate.”
She added, “Food prices are already at a high. We’re worried that people in the Middle East and Africa could become more vulnerable if supplies are disrupted.”
Lebanon, which is going through one of the deepest economic collapses, is also worried about rising wheat prices, the Telegraph said.
Local bread producers told The Telegraph, “Because of the economic crisis in Lebanon, we would suffer big time if there was to be war in Ukraine,” said Ghassan Bou Habib, the CEO of Wooden Bakery, a chain with 50 branches across Lebanon. He added, “We are already suffering, if it happens, I’m sure it will be a lot harder to maintain the business.”
In Egypt, the world’s largest importer of wheat, past increases in the price of bread has caused riots. “Bread, freedom, and social justice” was a staple chant of Egyptian protesters during the 2011 uprising “Arab Spring”, which brought down former president Hosni Mubarak.
Timothy Lang, emeritus professor at the City of London said, “We are now in the era where food prices are volatile. This means political volatility can push large numbers of people quickly into food insecurity.
On the other hand, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the 24th put the world economy in a ‘triple-hit’ of worsening inflation, slowing economic growth, and increasing uncertainty. According to the Wall Street Journal(WSJ) on the 24th (Local time), the price of raw materials mainly supplied by Russia and Ukraine, including international oil prices, rose one after another.
In the US market, wheat prices rose to the highest level since July 2012, and prices of aluminum and nickel also rose. Ukraine is also a major producer of grains such as wheat and maize and is referred to as the ‘breadbasket of Europe.’ Ukraine and Russia account for about 30% of world wheat exports.
This is a triple-hit to the global economy, with a toxic combination of higher inflation, lower economic growth, and greater uncertainty,” Ben Laidler, global market strategist at eToro, a stock exchange platform in Israel, said. (Source: Yeonhap News Edited).
All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. “Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.” “The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile. (Lamentation 1:11,18)
Father God, we pray to You to deliver the Middle East and North Africa from a food crisis that may be caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Please help the people of Lebanon and Egypt who are already suffering from economic hardship so that they may not go through hardships from soaring food prices. We bring the humble state of the Middle Eastern countries who are still groaning and seeking food to You so that they may experience the work of the Lord’s hand. May You grant Your grace so that the war will end soon.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
