French President warns of 'unprecedented food crisis' in ME countries like Egypt because of Russia’s military escalation on Ukraine

CAIRO – 25 March 2022: Countries in Africa and the Middle East like Egypt are facing an unprecedented food crisis to feed their nations, said French President Emmanuel Macron in his speech during the G7 and NATO summits on Thursday.

 

“Egypt imports 80 percent of [wheat] from Russia and Ukraine to feed its nation,” warned Macron, calling for a world food security plan. 

 

Egypt is the largest importer of wheat in the world, especially from Ukraine and Russia. Due to the military escalation in Ukraine by Russian troops wheat supply to Egypt has been affected and caused an increase of the price of the unsubsidized bread by 25 piasters per one loaf. Also, the country has canceled two international tenders of wheat due to bids of high prices. However, the government assured that the wheat stocks are enough until the end of this year, especially the near harvest of the locally produced wheat.

 

The Egyptian government issued a decision of banning exports of some basic and strategic commodities for three months, in a move to preserve stocks of basic commodities amid a severe global crisis related to supply chains because of the Russian-Ukrainian military escalation.

 

Also, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed to grant an additional import incentive to the price of local wheat for the current agricultural season to encourage farmers to supply the largest possible quantities.

 

To curb the increase of the price of unsubsidized bread following the crisis, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Mabdouli issued a decision, last week, determining the price of selling unsubsidized bread in its first article.

 

All stores, tourist bakeries, and other outlets are obligated to announce the selling prices of these products, in places visible to their patrons, provided that the provisions of this decision continue for a period of 3 months, or until further notice, whichever comes first.