Ukrainian Grain Ship arrives in Djibouti

The first shipment of grain from Ukraine to Africa since the war began has arrived at the Red Sea port of Djibouti.

Report says the Lebanese-flagged MV Brave Commander is carrying 23,000 tonnes of wheat bound for neighbouring Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, World Food Program says this first shipment of grain will be shipped overland to northern Ethiopia, where millions of people have been affected by the country’s Tigray conflict.

However, there are concerns as humanitarian deliveries by road and air have been suspended amid the fighting that sparked again last week between Tigray forces and the Ethiopian army.

The UN World Food Program, WFP has said it is working on multiple ships, as the flow of grain from Ukraine to other parts of the world is expected to continue, with another ship departing for Yemen.

Ethiopia is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years, as well as a number of conflicts.

Report says food security experts said it will take weeks for people in African countries to see grain from Ukraine arrive and even longer to see it bring down high food prices that have been a source of despair and protests in multiple nations.

As the shipment is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed in the countries of East Africa where drought is widespread.

BBC/CO