Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Fijian businesses showcase products at the Rugby World Cup [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

As the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France, proud Fijian businesses showcased their amazing products to the world and networked with global business leaders.

His Excellency The President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, with the support of the United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme, met 4 companies which travelled from Fiji to bring a taste of the Pacific to Europe. Businesses that were part of the showcase include:
- Essence Fiji – Beauty Care
- Naturally Fiji/Punjas – Beauty Care and Biscuits
- Down-to-Earth – Hot sauces
- Daily Good – Healthy Ginger Shots
The trade event took place on 9 September, with Flying Fijians dropping in, and Fijian cultural and ceremonial festivities organised in collaboration with the French Fijians Support Association and the Fijian Permanent Mission in Geneva. H.E The President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, honoured the event and encouraged the business representatives.

The British High Commissioner to Fiji, Dr Brian Jones, said:

We were excited to use the platform of the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup to promote Fijian businesses to UK and European buyers. With the support of H.E The President, the business representatives have done Fiji proud, just like the Flying Fijians. We are working hard to ensure this showcase results in solid business deals being signed for Fijian producers.

The business community had a chance to meet national rugby players in Bordeaux and interacted with a range of leading UK companies working in health care, hospitality, and food distribution, through one of the largest international sports gatherings, aim to expand Fiji’s export reach.

The Rugby World Cup is a unique opportunity for Fiji businesses to attract international recognition and to expand their global reach. This showcased that Fiji’s participation is not limited to the rugby field, but extends to the promotion of the culture, cuisine, and commerce of Fiji. Trade promotion and rugby – a match made in heaven.
September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £12.4 million to help change choices about work [September 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 12 September 2023.

Six ground-breaking projects including an investigation looking at how endometriosis impacts women in the workplace have been awarded £12.4 million, the government has announced today, Tuesday 12 September.
£12.4 million awarded to six innovative new projects to understand barriers to getting into work

projects include investigating the impact of endometriosis on women’s work choices and how programmes to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes can improve workforce participation

funding will help overcome barriers facing those who need the most support getting into work

The projects comprise the first round of the Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund, and take place over the next two years. The results will help to transform the government’s approach to the jobs market and drive forward research into best practice in employment.

While the UK’s employment rate is higher than a number of other advanced economies, the government is committed to ensure that those who most need help getting into the workplace are supported.

The Chancellor announced a range of interventions to address this at Spring Budget 2023 – including a significant expansion of childcare support, making 30 hours of free childcare a week available to parents from children aged 9 months. The Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund is part of that and will be used to test new approaches and generate better evidence to help specific groups back into work or to work longer hours.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, said:

“Our jobs record is incredibly strong, with high employment that means millions of people are benefiting from work. But for some, that’s not happening.

“We need to look for solutions that are tailored to help people thrive in the jobs market. This analysis is the first step towards that – looking at specific health conditions or living arrangements to find out what works to help people work.”

Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies MP said:

“The vital opportunities and confidence employment gives, helps to transform lives. This is why we are determined to support all those who want to progress to do so, while also driving down inactivity and importantly growing the economy.

“This key new funding for our pilots will enable us to support even more people to move forward in work, including vitally those in supported accommodation and more disadvantaged communities, to help people to break down any barriers to work, so more people can fulfil their employment potential.”

National Statistician, Sir Ian Diamond, said:

“The ONS welcomes the opportunity to shine light on this important area with these projects. This new analysis will provide crucial insight for decision makers in helping to understand how health conditions impact on people’s working lives and what interventions can help people stay in work.”

Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy Maria Caulfield said:

“Endometriosis can be a debilitating condition that stops women and girls from living their lives to their fullest potential.

“Through the Women’s Health Strategy we have set an ambition for all women and girls with severe endometriosis to experience better care, with reduced waiting times for diagnosis and providing funding for key research into the condition.

“The support doesn’t stop at health, and today’s announcement demonstrates how we’re taking a cross-government approach to help women with endometriosis get back to living their best lives.”

One of the projects includes a first-of-its-kind Office for National Statistics (ONS) evaluation which will investigate the impact of endometriosis on women’s participation and progression in the workforce. Endometriosis can affect around 1 in 10 women, with symptoms including chronic pain and fatigue which can disrupt daily routines, fertility and mental health and time off work may be needed for coping with symptoms. Previous work has shown that women with the condition often take this into consideration when making career choices, including the likelihood they will need to take significantly more sick leave. This project will improve understanding and help inform government plans to support women with the condition in their careers.

A second project by the ONS will evaluate whether programmes to reduce the risk of developing type two diabetes and obesity improve people’s ability to join the labour market. Around 3.8 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes and 2.4 million are at high risk of developing the disease which can have a strong effect on quality of life, including the ability to work. The evaluation will include reviewing the impact of the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP), a large scale nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme aimed at people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

There will also be a new pilot to address barriers to work faced by those aged 18-24 living in supported housing, which is accommodation provided alongside care, support or supervision to help people live as independently as possible in the community and can act as a pathway to transitioning into work.

To support young people in making that transition, DWP and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have developed a Proof of Concept that will test financial support and simplification of the benefits system for 18-24 year olds living in supported housing who move into work or increase their working hours. This will help them to build their employment prospects further, work towards becoming financially independent and progress into move on accommodation in a planned way.

Funding will also be allocated to two HMRC projects to evaluate the impact of Tax-Free Childcare on parents’ work choices and women’s return to work after maternity leave. In addition, funding will be provided to DWP to trial employment support and rent incentives to move people out of work or on low earnings into work or onto higher earnings.

Further information

At Spring Budget, the government announced a comprehensive employment package designed to remove the barriers preventing people from working and support them into the UK’s labour market, to boost economic growth, unlock the UK’s productive potential, and raise living standards. It is estimated to move 110,000 more individuals into the labour market by 2027-28, the largest supply-side policy adjustment the OBR have made to their forecast since 2010.

Bids for the first round of the Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund were assessed collaboratively by the joint HMT and Cabinet Office Evaluation Task Force.

Further rounds of funding will be allocated in due course to evaluate new and existing labour market measures, move people into work and increase productivity. The results of these projects will inform future labour market policy.

The Rent Simplification and Support Proof of Concept scheme is led by the Department for Work and Pensions and would mean young people in supported housing, who start work or increase their hours, would only have to pay up to a capped amount towards their rent (e.g. Local Housing Allowance equivalent rent amount) as opposed to the full rent liability.

For further information on government action to improve healthcare quality and access for women, please see the Women’s Health Strategy for England, and what we’ve achieved so far over the first year of the strategy.
September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK provides £3,000,000 of new humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

This funding will help refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char access healthcare, clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, and cooking fuel.

Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has announced that the UK will provide £3,000,000 (around 42 crore taka) of new funding through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

Sir Philip Barton is visiting Bangladesh for the fifth UK-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue. Building on the UK and Bangladesh’s historic links, the Strategic Dialogue reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to develop a modern economic, trade and security partnership.

Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton said

“I am pleased to announce a further UK contribution of £3,000,000 to UNHCR, which will help to ensure refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char are able to access healthcare, clean water, hygiene and sanitation services and cooking fuel.

“Six years since the atrocities of 2017, which forced Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, the UK continues to stand with the Rohingya, Bangladesh, and all those affected by this crisis. We continue to push for a long-term solution that will enable the refugees to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis, when the conditions there allow. Until that time, the UK is committed to supporting the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.”

Background Information
- Since 2017, the UK has provided £365 million (over 5,000 crore taka) to support the Rohingya and Bangladeshi host communities. This has included food, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare and protection services.
September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia used its veto alone to end Security Council measures aimed at supporting peace in Mali – UK statement at the UN General Assembly [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN General Assembly.

Thank you Mr President, and let me start by joining others in expressing our condolences to the Kingdom of Morocco and its people after this weekend’s tragic earthquake.

Mr President, General Assembly Resolution 76/262 is an important mechanism to ensure that permanent members who use their veto must justify its use in front of this General Assembly. So, it is deplorable that once again we find ourselves holding Russia to account for abusing the veto in a way that undermines international peace and security,

Russia likes to claim it stands up to so-called Western hegemony. Yet it is Russia alone that has repeatedly used its veto to impose its will on the rest of the world where it has failed by force of argument or logic to win the votes to support its positions.

Amid escalating violence in Mali, and as the Peace Agreement comes under increasing pressure, the decision to renew the mandate should have been straightforward and following tireless efforts by the co-penholders, they produce a compromised text that passed the rest of the Council with 13 votes in favour. But instead of working for a compromise Russia tabled a take-it-or-leave-it last minute resolution of its own, which would have dissolved the Panel of Experts.

The Russian text received no support. Literally not a single other vote. That summarises better than anything else the legitimacy of Russia’ arguments.

Russia’s latest actions set a dangerous precedent as the first time a UN sanctions regime has been ended with the veto. There is no justifiable explanation for this, and today, Russia failed to provide one.

The simple truth is that Russia used its veto, alone, to end Security Council measures aimed at supporting peace in Mali. This veto will undermine the implementation of Mali’s Peace Agreement, reduce the Council’s access to information and harm Mali’s prospects for long-term stability.

And it is no wonder that Russia wanted to censor the Panel of Experts. Their final report exposed the Wagner Group’s role in human rights atrocities in Mali, and it showed that under Wagner’s watch the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has almost doubled its area of control. A security partnership with Russia is clearly not in the interest of Mali’s people but nor is it the solution to Mali’s insecurity.

The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the peace process in Mali, as well as security across the wider continent. We urge the Transitional Administration to comply with its responsibilities under international law. And we urge the rest of the world to unite in order to help stabilise the situation in Mali.

September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Stars descend on Downing Street to throw support behind new laws to make UK safest place to be online [September 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 September 2023.

Technology Secretary meets nation’s best-known personalities to discuss new laws which would make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.
Famous faces who are vocal about online abuse – including the most-capped Lioness and reality TV stars – will discuss the issue with Tech Sec Michelle Donelan in No10

New laws set to be introduced as landmark legislation completes its final stages in Parliament to make the UK the safest place in the world online

Technology Secretary will tell the influential group that she stands shoulder to shoulder with them in their campaign against vile online abuse

Some of the nation’s best-known personalities from reality TV to sports, journalism and music will today (Tuesday 12 September) meet the Technology Secretary to discuss new laws which would make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

Coming together at Downing Street later today, they’ll shine a light not only on the impact cowardly online abuse has had on them in the past, but the need to pass powerful new laws to tackle it permanently for future generations, protecting our kids and our mental health.

Stars in attendance to discuss the UK Government’s Online Safety Bill include Georgia Kousoulou, Emily Clarkson, Georgia Harrison and Fara Williams who have been some of the most passionate and dedicated advocates in the UK for a safer internet over the past few years.

The online world plays a huge role in our personal and professional lives, and those in attendance have all have experienced trolling and other forms of abuse online, with new parents including Emily Clarkson, Georgia Kousoulou and others previously raising concerns about their children’s safety growing up online.

Those joining the roundtable have previously echoed their support for the landmark piece of legislation, praising how the new rules will protect their kids from harmful and illegal content, such as bullying, pornography, the promotion of self-harm and eating disorders and online sexual exploitation and abuse.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

The message from government and these brave campaigners is clear. Enough is enough – it’s time to pass our online safety law and crack down on the sick and cowardly trolls who prowl out of sight online. We stand shoulder to shoulder in our determination to protect our children and other vulnerable groups from a host of vile content that is currently all too easy for them to access.

Former The Only Way is Essex star Georgia Kousoulou said:

Like any mum, I want my son to grow up feeling safe. These new internet safety laws are so important and will make sure our kids are protected from cyberbullying and illegal content they shouldn’t be seeing.

The Online Safety Bill is the UK Government’s flagship piece of legislation that will make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. It will do this by:

Tackling criminal activity online – if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online. Platforms will be forced to quickly remove terrorist material or child sexual abuse and exploitation once they are alerted to its presence and will not be allowed to promote it in their algorithms.

Protecting children from harmful or inappropriate content such as, bullying, pornography and the promotion of self-harm and eating disorders.

Increasing the transparency and accountability of online platforms and ensuring they keep their promises to their users.

In just a matter of weeks, we expect the Bill to become law, with it currently completing its final stages in Parliament, following boosted protections to make sure it is as strong as possible and truly future-proofed.

NSPCC Chief Executive, Sir Peter Wanless, said:

The Online Safety Bill is a landmark piece of legislation and will become a central pillar of the child protection framework in the UK. The Government and politicians of all sides have worked tirelessly with survivors of abuse, bereaved families and civil society to ensure the legislation results in a much safer online world for children.

We are tantalisingly close to passing the Bill, so its real-world impact can begin. Once MPs and parliamentarians have finished their work, it is over to tech companies to work with the regulator Ofcom and child protection experts to make sure their products and services do not put children at risk any longer.

Former Love Island star Georgia Harrison said:

Violence against women and girls is so common, with one in three women in the UK having experienced online abuse or harassment.

The Online Safety Bill is going to help bring this to an end, by holding social media companies accountable to protect women and girls from online abuse.

Fara Williams, EE Hope United squad member and former England international, said:

I’m pleased to show my support of the amendments to the Online Safety Bill that will hopefully see more protection for women and girls online. It is clear that the online abuse that happens across social media platforms is something that needs to change and so this a very positive step towards creating a safer and more inclusive online environment for everyone.

Under the new laws, all social media firms will be forced to proactively tackle priority illegal content, and ensure they have systems and processes in place that will quickly take down other criminal content once they become aware of its presence.

The largest platforms with certain functionalities will also be legally forced to take down any material that breaches their own terms of service and provide adults with greater controls over posts containing legal material they may not wish to see.

The Bill will ensure that all users will have the ability to filter out any users that are unverified on websites and can prevent them from interacting with any content which they upload, generate or share, if they so wish.

Platforms will legally have to ensure they have effective reporting and redress mechanisms in place that enables any user to raise concerns about illegal content and companies’ enforcement of their terms of service.

The Bill will also ensure tech companies proactively tackle the use of their platforms to commit fraud. All companies in scope of the Bill will need to tackle fraud offences, this includes, user generated content or content accessed via search results.

Furthermore, the largest and most high-risk services will have additional duties in relation to fraud facilitated through paid for adverts. They will face hefty fines if they do not.

In addition, the regulator, Ofcom, will have a broad power to require information from companies to assess compliance with providers’ duties to tackle illegal content and content that is harmful to children.
September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Careless driver, Keilan Roberts, has sentence increased [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 11 September 2023.

A man who got behind the wheel with a lethal cocktail of alcohol and drugs in his system before killing a girl he had met on the same night has had his sentence increased.

Keilan Roberts (22), from Rhymney, Caerphilly County, has had his three years and nine months prison sentence overturned by the Court of Appeal and increased to five years and three months after the Solicitor General referred the original sentence as being unduly lenient.

Roberts also saw his driving disqualification increased from 10 years to 12 years and seven-and-a-half months.

The court heard that on the evening of 24 July 2022, Keilan Roberts met Chloe Hayman in a nightclub while on a night out in Pontypridd, Wales.

The pair had been given a lift home by a mutual friend before Keilan Roberts and Chloe Hayman continued their journey in Keilan Roberts’ car.

But as Keilan Roberts approached a cattle grid just outside Fochriw, near Bargoed, Caerphilly, he mounted the kerb and collided with a metal railing and stone wall. Chloe Hayman sustained grave injuries and died at the scene.

Keilan Robert’s blood sample taken at his arrest showed he had a lethal cocktail of alcohol and drugs in his system.

The Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

“This was a tragic case where a young person died because of the offender’s careless actions. I want to express my sincere sympathies to Chloe’s family for their loss.

“When you get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence you are not only putting yourself in danger but your passengers and everyone else on the road. The court’s decision to increase the sentence should serve as a strong warning that reckless behaviour will be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Keilan Roberts pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by careless driving and was sentenced on 6 June 2023 at Newport Crown Court to three years and nine months imprisonment. He also was disqualified from driving for 10 years.

On 8 September 2023, the Court of Appeal increased Keilan Roberts’ sentence after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this week, the Foreign Secretary met the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu today during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Foreign Secretary emphasised the strength of our bilateral relationship and welcomed the free trade negotiations underway.

The Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of the UK and Israel’s shared democratic values that underpin our strategic partnership and encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to seek any judicial reform through the achievement of the broadest possible consensus.

He and Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed the UK and Israel’s continued cooperation on major geopolitical challenges, in the region and around the world.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law. He expressed the UK’s solidarity with Israel following repeated terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.

He also outlined his concern with ongoing tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the importance of both Israelis and Palestinians taking meaningful action to de-escalate tensions, including by addressing settler violence.

September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary meets Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this week, the Foreign Secretary met the Foreign Minister of Israel, Eli Cohen.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary met with Foreign Minister Cohen this afternoon during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the UK and Israel’s thriving partnership, building on their meeting in London in March to sign the UK-Israel 2030 roadmap.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed the work underway to negotiate an enhanced and modernised Free Trade Agreement and encouraged Israel to demonstrate increased ambition in order to secure the best possible deal.

The Foreign Secretary emphasised continued UK concern about any departure from the democratic values that underpin our strategic partnership.

The Foreign Secretary acknowledged the heightened tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He expressed his condolences following repeated terror attacks against Israeli citizens and reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law.

The Foreign Secretary urged both Israelis and Palestinians to take meaningful action to de-escalate tensions and to preserve the two-state solution including, in the case of Israel, to stop settlement expansion and act to prevent settler violence and the culture of impunity.

He and Foreign Minister Cohen welcomed the UK and Israel’s continued cooperation on tackling the threat posed by Iran. The Foreign Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine and highlighted the importance of Israel’s support, including towards Ukrainian reconstruction.

September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Afghanistan [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

Statement for Item 2: Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on human rights situation in Afghanistan. Delivered by Human Rights Ambassador Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

Let me start by thanking the Special Rapporteur for his longstanding and determined efforts to continue to shed light on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

We have all watched in horror and sadness as the Taliban have continued their campaign of repression and violence against Afghan women and girls. The ongoing restrictions to the rights of women and girls across every sphere of their lives – in education, in health, in employment, and in freedom of movement – is deplorable. The impact on their wellbeing and livelihood is truly unimaginable. One recent outrage was the closure of beauty salons, severely impacting thousands of women, a number of whom were then punished for bravely protesting the decision.

This coincides with tens of millions of Afghans who are also now in need of humanitarian aid, including many women and children. The UK stands with the international community in helping the Afghan people.

Special Rapporteur,

The Taliban must respond to the needs of the Afghan people. Their call for “work, bread, justice” must be heard.

How can we best communicate our concerns to the Taliban in a way they will understand? How can we better support those who are standing up for human rights in Afghanistan?

Thank you.

September 13, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New intelligence shows Russia’s targeting of a cargo ship [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

New intelligence shows the intended target of a Russian missile attack in the Black Sea was a cargo ship.
- intended target of a Russian missile attack in the Black Sea was a civilian cargo ship
- attacks thwarted by Ukrainian forces who shot down multiple missiles heading towards Odesa port
- since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russian attacks have destroyed enough grain to feed more than one million people for a year
Intelligence shows that the Russian military targeted a cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on 24 August.

The missiles, which included 2 Kalibr missiles fired from a Black Sea Fleet missile carrier, were successfully shot down by Ukraine’s forces on 24 August.

Intelligence shows that an intended target was a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in the port.

This attack followed US government warnings that the Russian military may launch attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

Thanks to Ukraine’s air defence, the attack on the civilian ship failed. Not one of the Kalibr missiles reached its intended target.

Despite its failure, this is a clear demonstration of Russia’s continuing attempts to choke Ukraine’s economy, and President Putin’s disregard for the lives of civilians and the interests of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is.

In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world.

This is part of a pattern of Russian aggression in the Black Sea. In July, the Foreign Secretary said the UK believed Russia may target civilian ships in the Black Sea. The US has observed Russia laying more sea mines around Ukrainian ports, and footage showing the detonation of a sea mine in July.

Since July, Russia has systematically targeted Ukrainian port and civilian infrastructure. The attacks have so far destroyed 280,000 tonnes of grain – enough to feed over 1 million people for a year, and more than the total Russia promised to donate to African countries.

Russia has stopped even attempting to justify that these attacks are against legitimate military targets and is cynically targeting civilian infrastructure. President Putin’s intentions are clear for all to see. This is a brutal attempt to choke the Ukrainian economy.

While the UK and our partners continue to do all we can to ensure Ukraine’s exports reach those who need it most, this pattern of deliberately targeted attacks in the Black Sea by Russia demonstrates President Putin’s willingness to weaponise food and innocent trade at the expense of the rest of the world as they block food from reaching world markets.

Since its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has:
- damaged 26 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni
- destroyed 280,000 tonnes of grain – more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African states, and enough to feed over 1 million people for a year
- because of Russia’s decision to withdraw, up to 24 million tonnes of foodstuffs from Ukraine may now not reach global markets over the coming year
- before Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was feeding 400 million people worldwide and accounted for 8 to 10% of global wheat exports and 10 to 12% of corn and barley exports.
- Ukraine provided over 50% of the wheat for the World Food Programme in 2022 – without the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) the World Food Programme (WFP) will have to replace this with more expensive or lower quality wheat
September 13, 2023