Disruption of gas shipments to Europe … and the repercussions of the crisis “may last a hundred years”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yesterday that he is deeply concerned about the spread of a wave of hunger, at a time when the war in Ukraine threatens food security in different parts of the world.
The war in Ukraine has pushed up global prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizers, while UN agencies have warned that higher prices will exacerbate Africa’s food crisis. The war, which began in February, has disrupted shipping in the Black Sea, a major route for grain and other goods, choking off exports from Ukraine and Russia.
‘I have to say I am very concerned,’ said Guterres. Especially with the increased risk of hunger in different parts of the world, due to the tragic situation we are facing in terms of food security as a result of the war in Ukraine.”
For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said yesterday that Ukraine may suffer the repercussions of the Russian war “for a hundred years” due to unexploded ordnance scattered in a number of cities, adding that allied countries will help it in the reconstruction. “Those who live in Germany know that bombs from World War II are still frequently found, and that bomb threats persist,” Schulz said. “Ukraine must be prepared to face the repercussions of this war for a hundred years,” he added.
In a related context, the volume of Russian gas passing through Ukraine to Europe decreased yesterday, for the first time since the start of the war, after the interruption of a gas pipeline linking Russia and Ukraine, which led to a disruption in gas shipments transported to Germany by 25 percent.
Despite this, the German government agency responsible for energy confirmed that the overall supply is guaranteed; “Increased supplies from Norway and the Netherlands compensate for the affected quantities.”