The FINANCIAL — According to RIA Novosti, Ukraine has delivered 1,000 metric tons of wheat worth $580,000 as humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, its first contribution under the World Food Program, Ukrainian news agency UNIAN reported on July 26.
The food will be distributed among 5 million people, the agency said.
A WFP spokesman said at a ceremony to mark the handing over of the food that Ukraine's assistance has come at a crucial time, as Ethiopia faces the threat of mass hunger due to drought, and high food prices amid the global financial and economic crisis.
According to a UN report, over 116,000 metric tons of food aid was urgently needed to prevent starvation as of the start of the year.
Ukraine collected a record harvest of 48.6 million metric tons of grain in 2008, and expects to harvest 41.9 million metric tons in 2009. In the past marketing season (from July 2008 to June 2009), Ukraine exported almost 25 million metric tons of grain.
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