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U.S. provides up to $20 mln for Grain from Ukraine initiative

The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing up to $20 million for the Grain from Ukraine initiative, announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G20 Summit earlier this week, to help feed people around the world facing staggering levels of food insecurity, USAID said in the press release issued on Friday, November 18.

"USAID will provide support through the UN World Food Program (WFP) to facilitate additional shipments of Ukrainian grain moving through the Black Sea Grain Initiative," it said.

Before Putin's invasion, Ukraine was one of WFP's top suppliers of grain and the fourth largest commercial exporter of wheat globally, USAID recalled.

Today's announcement builds on the $173 million to date in existing U.S. support to WFP to purchase Ukrainian grain to feed people in countries facing the most severe food crises, including Ethiopia, Yemen, and Afghanistan. U.S. funding has purchased 210,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed approximately 12.6 million people for one month.

Since the beginning of Putin's war against Ukraine in February, the United States has provided more than $11 billion to respond to the global food crisis, including nearly $8.6 billion in humanitarian assistance, according to the press release.

USAID also continues to assist Ukraine's farmers, who are risking their lives to feed the world, through the Agriculture Resilience Initiative - Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine). The initiative focuses on four areas that are critical to sustain Ukraine's agricultural exports and its contributions to global food security: providing critical inputs for farmers; improving export logistics and infrastructure; increasing farmers' access to financing, and supporting crop drying, storage, and processing needs. USAID has invested $100 million in the initiative, and the agency is seeking to raise at least $150 million in additional funding from fellow donors, foundations, and the private sector.

Tags: #grain

Officials confirm 6 people unaccounted for following Maryland bridge collapse.

Officials confirm 6 people unaccounted for following Maryland bridge collapse.

No evidence of terror as desperate search continues. Read more: ––– Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events on ABC News Live: Watch full episodes of World News Tonight with David Muir here: Read ABC N...

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West Reliant on Russian Nuclear Fuel Amid Decarbonization Push.

West Reliant on Russian Nuclear Fuel Amid Decarbonization Push.

An analysis by Britain’s Royal United Services Institute has found that many Western nations still rely on Russian nuclear fuel to power their reactors, despite efforts to sever economic ties with the Kremlin following its 2022 full-scale invasion...

VOA News -

6 people unaccounted for after Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say.

6 people unaccounted for after Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other officials gave an update Tuesday morning on search and rescue efforts after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed hours earlier. Two people have been rescued from the water so far and six were unaccounted...

CBS News -

Engineer ‘surprised’ cargo ship destroyed Baltimore bridge.

Engineer ‘surprised’ cargo ship destroyed Baltimore bridge.

Structural engineer John Pistorino reacts to the collapse of a Baltimore bridge after a cargo ship crashed into a support beam. #foxnews Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-...

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Israeli troops storm through bombed out Gaza streets in hunt for Hamas despite UN’s ceasefire demand.

Israeli troops storm through bombed out Gaza streets in hunt for Hamas despite UN’s ceasefire demand.

Israeli troops storm through bombed out Gaza streets in hunt for Hamas despite UN’s ceasefire demand. United Nations Security Council passed a resolution yesterday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the rest of Ramadan. It led to Israel ...

The Sun -

Ship made warning call before striking Baltimore bridge, mayor says it saved lives.

Ship made warning call before striking Baltimore bridge, mayor says it saved lives.

Officials say the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge made a mayday call that it had lost power, giving law enforcement time to stop traffic onto the bridge before it was hit and collapsed. CBS News Homeland Security and Justice reporter...

CBS News -