By Enyichukwu Enemanna
An agency of the United Nations, the World Food Programme (WFP) has shipped fertilizer which originated from Russia to Egypt after it was confiscated in Latvia, Latvia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
It was seized as part of the implementation of sanction imposed on Moscow by the European Union following its invasion of Ukraine in a war that has entered its second year.
The first shipment of part of the 200,000 tonnes of the seized fertilizer left the port of Riga on Friday to Kenya. More batches will be transported in coming days, the statement said further.
“The Latvian Government decided to facilitate the donation, with support from the UN World Food Programme, of mineral fertilizers owned by companies sanctioned by the European Union,” the statement said.
“Together with its foreign partners and international organisations, Latvia continues providing support for the countries that have been affected by the food crisis triggered by Russia’s war on Ukraine.”
Africa has been hit with wave of food shortage following the invasion which cut grain supply from Ukraine to the continent.
Kenya has also been hit by drought after repeated failed rains that has worsened the plight of citizens facing high cost of living and political disagreement that has led to protest led by the opposition in the East African country.
