UPDATE - Ukrainian grain shipment bound for Ethiopia docks Djibouti port

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By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The Brave Commander ship carrying grain from Ukraine docked the port of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa on Tuesday, officials confirmed.

“We have officially docked! The first @WFP ship to carry Ukrainian grain since February has just arrived in #Djibouti. Now, let’s get this wheat offloaded and on to #Ethiopia,” tweeted World Food Program (WFP) chief David Beasley.

The UN-chartered vessel carrying over 23,000 tons of Ukrainian grain would be unloaded and transferred to Ethiopia, one of five countries the UN considers at risk of starvation.

It is, however, challenging to deliver aid into the conflict-hit regions in the East African country. “The fresh eruption of conflicts raging now for the 6th day in northern Ethiopia may make it difficult for aid to reach the needy people in Tigray, Amhara and Afar states,” a humanitarian worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency.

On July 22, Türkiye along with the UN, Russia and Ukraine agreed to facilitate release of food and fertilizers shipments stuck in Ukraine due to Russia's war, which has led to a leap in prices.

It is the first consignment from Ukraine to Africa since the conflict began between Russia and Ukraine in late February.