Russia has rejected a call by the United Nations to end its Black Sea naval blockade, which has prevented Ukraine from exporting grain to world markets. On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council that Russia’s invasion threatens to trigger years of mass hunger and famine, compounding food shortages caused by climate change, COVID-19 and inequality.

Secretary-General António Guterres: “The war in Ukraine is now adding a frightening new dimension to this picture of global hunger. Russia’s invasion of its neighbor has effectively ended its food exports. Price increases of up to 30% for staple foods threaten people in countries across Africa and the Middle East, including Cameroon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.”