First UN food ship from Ukraine docks in Africa, second sets sail for Yemen

A United Nations-chartered ship loaded with thousands of tons of Ukrainian wheat destined for some of the millions of people at risk of starvation in the Horn of Africa arrived in Djibouti on Tuesday [August 30].

The bulk carrier Brave Commander marks the first ship arranged by the UN's World Food Program (WFP) since Russia launched the invasion of Ukraine in February, Daily Sabah reports.

The WFP separately said the second shipment of humanitarian food aid since a landmark deal brokered by Türkiye and the UN freed up Ukraine's Black Sea ports last month left for Yemen on Tuesday.

The keenly awaited first aid ship destined for Ethiopia and loaded with 23,000 metric tons of grain, said to be enough to feed 1.5 million people on full rations for a month, docked in the Horn of Africa port city, the WFP said, two weeks after leaving the Pivdennyi port in Ukraine.

The wheat is supposed to be shipped overland to northern Ethiopia, where millions of people in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions have faced not only drought but deadly conflict, which has now flared up again.

"We have officially docked! The first WFP ship to carry Ukrainian grain since February has just arrived in Djibouti," WFP executive director David Beasley said on Twitter.

"Now, let’s get this wheat offloaded and on to Ethiopia.”

The UN agency said food insecurity and malnutrition are a major concern across Ethiopia, with an estimated 20.4 million people in need of food support.