Berlin 15 August, 2010 : The first grain cargo ship chartered by the United Nations left the southern Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi on Sunday with wheat for Africa According to the governor of the Odessa region, Maksym Marchenko.The UN World Food Programme (WFP) had chartered the freighter Brave Commander, which the UN claimed carried 23,000 tonnes of wheat that was destined for Ethiopia according to dpa news agency reported.
The UN and Turkey had signed accords at the end of July that allowed Ukraine to resume exports of grain via its Black Sea ports despite the conflict with Russia.
From the beginning of August more than 12 freighters have taken Ukrainian grain out of the country.However the first shipments were commercial.
The UN is worried about the possibility of food shortages and hunger in the poorest regions of the world in the event that Ukraine does not resume its role as a major supplier of grain.
The vessels and their cargo are scrutinized as they travel through the Turkish Bosporus Straits.of the Bosporus.
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