Millions of people could die in a global food crisis unless Putin stops blockading Black Sea ports, UN food boss warns

David Beasley, head of the United Nations World Food Program

© APA | David Beasley, head of the United Nations World Food Program

# 13 May 2022 18:13 (UTC +04:00)

The head of the United Nations World Food Program pleaded with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to open the Black Sea ports before "millions" of people die of hunger, APA reports citing CNN.

"Millions of people around the world will die because these ports are being blocked," David Beasley said at a conference Thursday, per CNN.

When asked what he would say directly to Putin, Beasley said: "If you have any heart at all for the rest of the world, regardless of how you feel about Ukraine, you need to open up those ports."

Beasley said that the Ukrainian city of Odesa and other ports needed to be operational within the next 60 days to prevent a global food crisis, CNN reported.

"World leaders have got to put pressure on Russia in such a way that we can have absolute neutrality to move supplies in and out of Odesa," he said.

Russia has blocked hundreds of ships containing Ukrainian grain exports in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov since the start of its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

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