Ship Carrying Grain from Ukrainian Ports to Afghanistan Inspected

The inspections of the grain that will go to Afghanistan within the scope of the humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) from the “Grain Corridor”, which was created as a result of Turkey's initiatives and contributed greatly to the solution of the global food crisis, have been completed.

The Malta-flagged ship M/V ANHTEİA, whose inspection was completed by the Joint Coordination Center (MKM), established for the safe transfer of grain products, set off for Afghanistan. Within the scope of the humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP), the ship carrying approximately 15 thousand tons of wheat departed from Ukraine's Chornomorsk Port on January 2023, 16 and was inspected by MKM officials off Istanbul Zeytinburnu. The ship has the distinction of being the 5th ship to go to Afghanistan.

After the intensive diplomacy carried out by our country and the “Safe Shipment of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports Initiative Document” signed between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations on July 22, 2022 under the presidency of President Erdoğan and the UN Secretary-General, grain loaded from Odessa Port on 1 August. More than 674 million tons of grain products have been shipped from the Ukrainian ports by 18 ships from Razoni, the first ship to set off.

With the agreement reached, the ships waiting with grain in Ukrainian ports were able to leave the ports safely, and the way for the ships controlled in Istanbul to go to the Ukrainian ports and make grain shipments was cleared.

The Joint Coordination Center, which was established in Istanbul for the safe shipment of grain products from Ukraine and opened on 27 July 2022, conveyed to the UN and Turkish authorities that the activities were temporarily suspended due to the attacks in Sevastopol on 29 October, and the ships exited the ports of Ukraine. had been stopped.

In line with the initiatives and instructions of our President, Mr. Erdogan, Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar also carried out intensive studies to keep the grain corridor open, and on November 19, 2022, it was decided to extend the agreement for 120 days.

Our President, Mr. Erdogan's statement, “Poor countries will be the priority in grain!” Upon his call with his statements, the amount of grain sent to less developed countries was increased. In this context; Food was delivered to many needy countries in Africa and Asia, especially Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti, which were most affected by the devastating consequences of the grain crisis.

Joint Coordination Center (MKM) activities are carried out in coordination with the participation of the UN and relevant parties, hosted by our country, and continue to contribute to the solution of the global food crisis.