ODESA, Ukraine (Reuters) – U.S. aid chief Samantha Power announced a new funding of $250 million to support Ukrainian farmers affected by the blockade of grain shipments in the Black Sea after Russia’s invasion last year.
On Monday, Moscow withdrew from a U.N.-brokered agreement that allowed the safe passage of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, resulting in U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling it a detrimental action for needy people worldwide.
During a visit to the port of Odesa, Power revealed that the investment, through a USAID initiative that focuses on Ukraine’s agriculture sector, aims to enhance agricultural infrastructure and develop alternative export routes.
In addition, Power urged other governments and the private sector to match the U.S. investment with another $250 million to assist farmers affected by Russia’s policies and to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term economy.
“It is crucial that we collectively ensure the sustainability of Ukrainian farmers,” Power stated during a briefing with Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov in Odesa on Tuesday.
Prior to her visit to Odesa, Power also paid a visit to the State Emergency Services headquarters in the capital city, Kyiv, where she announced over $500 million in humanitarian aid.
She also provided an additional $2.3 million worth of equipment to assist the emergency services agency in repairing the damage inflicted by Russian forces on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives and millions have been displaced, resulting in the largest land conflict in Europe since World War Two.
(Reporting by Iryna Nazarchuk; Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Emma Rumney)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
