A UK government official has warned that people should prepare for global food shortages on an “apocalyptic” scale.
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, issued a warning to members of parliament of the possibility of a catastrophe, the Standard reports.
Bailey warns that the “apocalyptic” food shortages are looming because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m afraid the one I’m going to sound I guess apocalyptic about is food,” he told members of the Commons Treasury Committee.
Bailey raised the alarm following a meeting with the Ukrainian finance minister recently, WND reports.
The report explained that Bailey’s concern is over future supplies of many staple foods.
“Two things the Ukrainian finance minister said, one is Ukraine does have food in store but it cannot get it out at the moment,” Bailey said.
“Two, Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat, a major supplier of cooking oil, he was pretty optimistic about planting interestingly, but he said at the moment we have no way of shipping it out as things stand.
“That is a major worry and it is not just a major worry for this country, it is a major worry for the developing world as well.
“Sorry for being apocalyptic but that is a major concern,” he said.
The Standard reported the comments followed a warning from U.N. officials that “millions” of people around the world will die if Vladimir Putin does not allow traffic through Ukraine’s ports.
That comment was from David Beasley, of the World Food Program, the report said.
“He emphasized that the historic port of Odesa, which has come under heavy Russian bombardment, and other ports needed to be operational within the next two months to avoid catastrophe for Ukraine’s economy which is heavily focused on agriculture, recently accounting for just over 40% of its exports,” the report explained.
Ukraine is, in fact, one of the world’s top exporters of corn, wheat, and barley, as well as sunflower oil and more.
Bailey also warned about inflation, explaining its main drivers include “energy prices now and still global foods prices.”
“Last week, Italian League party leader Matteo Salvini warned the looming food shortages due to the war could cause as many as 20 million people from Africa to migrate to Europe,” the Gateway Pundit commented.
He warned if Ukrainian exports “continue to be impacted,” “Significant hunger is expected on the African continent, which will be a humanitarian, then a social, and finally an Italian problem.”
As Slay News reported last week, India recently announced a ban on wheat exports over fears of “food security.”
