Russia's free grain supplies are very crucial for food security on the African continent, Oleg Kobiakov, the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) liaison office in Russia, told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2024), currently taking place in St. Petersburg.
This is particularly important for countries in crisis that "suffer from severe food shortages," Kobiakov stressed.
"These shipments provide immediate and much-needed food assistance to vulnerable populations. They cost consumers nothing. What's important for FAO is that these contributions play a vital role; they are emergency aid for hungry populations," he said.