Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit received Mr. Abdullah Dashti, the United Nations coordinator of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, at the General Secretariat's headquarters on 29 May, said the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Gamal Roshdy.
Aboul Gheit commended the UN coordinator and his team for their unwavering efforts in implementing the initiative on the ground despite prevailing security and political complexities. He highlighted the critical importance of continuing the initiative to enhance the stability of the global food market, which is witnessing alarming rises in the prices of basic commodities.
During the meeting, Aboul Gheit listened attentively to Mr. Dashti's detailed explanation of the initiative's mechanisms and its implementation on the ground in collaboration with the parties to the conflict.
The UN coordinator reported that since the initiative's announcement in July 2022, it has facilitated the provision of more than 50 million tons of commodities and grains in the global market, with Arab countries benefiting from a third of it. This achievement is particularly noteworthy at a time when the supply of the food basket has been disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, war, and drought.
Aboul Gheit expressed his full support for the initiative, recognising its crucial role in ensuring the provision of basic grains to the most vulnerable countries, including Arab countries. He called for greater support from all parties to ensure its continuation, and emphasised the League of Arab States' steadfast commitment to all efforts that enhance the stability of the global food market and reduce the food gap at the global level.
