Grain from Ukraine: Malawi receives vital corn shipment amid drought crisis

The project was carried out under the humanitarian program “Grain from Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian aid is intended to help alleviate the food crisis in Malawi caused by prolonged drought due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which resulted in the loss of about 44% of the local maize crop. According to available estimates, 5.7 million Malawians, approximately a quarter of the population, are currently experiencing acute food shortages.

The agricultural products shipped from Ukraine will provide 1.55 million Malawians with food for one month, which represents about a quarter of the country’s population suffering from drought-induced hunger.

In his speech, the Ambassador of Ukraine noted that Ukraine is a reliable partner and friend of Malawi. The two countries share common views on fundamental international issues, particularly the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as paths to achieving a just peace in Ukraine based on the Peace Formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

H.E. Andrii Pravednyk thanked the World Food Organization and representatives of the donor countries — Sweden, the Netherlands, France, and South Korea — for their solidarity in supporting Malawi under the “Grain from Ukraine” program.

On behalf of the Government of Malawi, Mr. Chuck Kalemba, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Malawi for Emergency Situations, expressed gratitude to Ukraine and the donor countries for the timely assistance that will help stabilize the food situation. He noted that the resilience of Ukrainians in the face of Russian aggression and Ukraine’s commitment to ensuring global food security serve as an example for Malawi.

He also emphasized that Malawi would continue to support the principles of peace, solidarity, and shared prosperity as opposed to wars that disrupt the world order and threaten global food security.

Representatives of donor countries, including Ambassador of Sweden H.E. P. Lingarde, emphasized their commitment to continue supporting food exports from Ukraine and condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s agricultural and logistics infrastructure, including ports.

The Grain from Ukraine program, launched on the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on November 26, 2022, was presented during the first International Food Security Summit in Kyiv. Following the summit, the Grain from Ukraine program secured support amounting to about USD 220 million.

On November 23 this year, the third Food Security Summit will be held in Kyiv to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the program, which is aimed at securing global food security.