Grain from Ukraine program delivers first 500 tons of flour to Syria

Ukraine has delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid—500 tons of flour—to Syria under the "Grain from Ukraine" program, supported by the World Food Program.

This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Rubryka.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Syria, now led by a new government following the fall of the Bashar Assad regime, has received this vital aid.

"No one in the world should suffer from hunger. While the Kremlin regime instigates global crises and remains the primary exporter of aggression, terror, and war crimes, Ukraine continues to act as a guarantor of global food security," stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Sybiha added, "On the President of Ukraine's instructions, we are expanding the 'Grain from Ukraine' initiative into 'Food from Ukraine.' Together with our partners, we are broadening the range of Ukrainian products and the geography of our aid. Our efforts today are focused on supporting the Syrian people, who have endured decades of suffering under the Assad and Putin regimes."

Sybiha, alongside Minister of Agrarian Policy Vitalii Koval, discussed future plans for food aid to Syria.

As part of this initiative, Ukrainian grain and other food products have already been sent—or are scheduled to be sent—to various countries.

• Mozambique: Nearly 416 tons of sunflower oil are expected to arrive in early February.
• Djibouti: By late January, 73.4 tons of sunflower oil and 970.5 tons of flour will be delivered.
• Tanzania: An additional 453 tons of sunflower oil will soon be shipped.

"Grain from Ukraine" Program

The Ukrainian humanitarian initiative "Grain from Ukraine" was launched in 2022 to provide urgently needed food supplies to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East struggling with hunger and the threat of famine.

In collaboration with the UN World Food Program, over 30 countries and international organizations have supported this effort. By the end of 2023, more than 170,000 tons of grain had been delivered to nations facing severe food insecurity, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Yemen.

On November 24, 2024, during the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holodomors, Kyiv hosted the Third International Summit on Food Security. Participating nations reaffirmed their commitment to the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative, agreeing to allocate approximately $44 million for its continuation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the impact of the initiative during the summit, stating that it has saved 20 million people from hunger since its inception.