“We are in an operation to unload the ship MV Greenwich” with 20,400 tons of fertilizers that “are destined for the Republic of Malawi,” said Miguel de Jenga.
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The first batch of 20,000 tons of Russian fertilizer destined for Africa, negotiated with the UN after the sanctions imposed by the war in Ukraine, is unloaded in the port of Beira, in Mozambique.
“We are in an operation to unload the ship MV Greenwich” with 20,400 tons of fertilizers that “are destined for the Republic of Malawi,” said Miguel de Jenga, director of operations for Cornelder Mozambique, operator of the terminal.
The operation began “two days ago”, after the ship docked and Mozambique it serves as a cargo transit country, important for agricultural activity in the region.
The lack of fertilizers and agro-industrial products has caused prices to rise, with a particular impact in Africa.
The British-flagged MV Greenwich left New Zealand on November 29, chartered by the World Food Program (WFP).
Russian fertilizer company Uralchem-Uralkali agreed in mid-November to export humanitarian shipments to Africa that had been blocked at warehouses in Belgium, the Netherlands and Estonia as part of sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the war in Ukraine.
The shipment is the first in a series of Russian shipments to African countries that were blocked in European ports and that were donated by the Russian firm.
In total, the donation is 260,000 tons and, according to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, will help “alleviate humanitarian needs and prevent a catastrophic loss of crops in Africa, at the height of the planting season.”
The initiative is part of agreement that Ukraine and Russia sealed in July, with the support of Turkey and the UNand which also allowed the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea.
Although the sanctions of Western countries against Russia do not affect food and fertilizers, according to Moscow, its exports of this type of product have practically stopped due to restrictions by logistics companies or difficulties in securing shipments.
the ONU He has been warning for months of the danger posed by the sharp rise in fertilizer prices since 2019with an increase of 250%, making them unaffordable for many farmers in developing countries.
Consequently, the UN fears that crops will be damaged, causing a serious food crisis, mainly in Africa.
Source: Observadora
