MV Brave Commander docked. The WFP-chartered vessel "Brave Commander" is the first humanitarian cargo vessel to arrive in Ukraine's Black Sea Ports since the start of the war, under the recent Black Sea Grain initiative, and the first vessel to be loaded in Pivdennyi port, Yuzhny, Odesa. It is expected to be the 15th vessel to leave Black Sea ports since the signing of the tripartite agreement between Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations. It will carry 23,000 metric tons of wheat to Ethiopia, where it will help support WFP's response to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. The near complete halt of Ukrainian grain and food on global market has made life even harder for families already struggling with rising hunger. A record 345 million people in 82 countries now facing acute food insecurity while up to 50 million people in 45 countries are right on the edge of famine and risk being tipped over without humanitarian support. Ukraine exported up to 6 million tonnes of grain a month before the conflict erupted in February 2022 – export volumes had then fallen to an average of 1 million tonnes per month. Getting Ukrainian grain to WFP’s humanitarian operations in places like Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen will ensure a double benefit to both Ukraine’s economy and famine risk populations in areas of the world hardest hit by the global food crisis.
