Belskaya: blocking Belarusian potash fertiliser transit creates threat of hunger in vulnerable countries

Western sanctions against Belarusian fertilisers and blocking of the latter’s unhindered transit to world markets are among the critical factors of the threat of hunger in vulnerable countries and a growing global food crisis – as stated by the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva, Larysa Belskaya, during her speech at the 75th executive session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board

Photo by Belarus’ Foreign Ministry

“The Food and Agriculture Organisation, as well as a number of UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, WHO, UNDP and UNICEF, concluded in the 2022 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report that ‘a sharp increase in fertiliser prices caused by sanctions reduces the economic availability of food’. The economic and physical availability of potash fertilisers continues to be of serious concern, especially in low-income countries,” the diplomat said.

The 2023 UNCTAD report on trade and development names high fertiliser costs among the factors that keep food prices high. The document also underlines a significant detrimental impact of the record rise in world food prices on developing countries. Data are provided on the doubling (against the 2020 figures) of the population of developing countries experiencing food shortages, and a pessimistic forecast for 2024.

Ms. Belskaya also drew attention to another aspect of the problem: unfair competition and blackmarketeering, “A deficit causes prices to rise, increases costs for farmers, stimulating a decrease in yields and an even greater increase in food prices. Accordingly, the preservation of Western sanctions against Belarusian fertilisers and the blocking of their unhindered transit to world markets are among the critical factors of the threat of hunger in vulnerable countries and a growing global food crisis.”

Speaking about sanctions in general, Belarus’ representative stressed, “The negative consequences of unilateral coercive measures – economic and financial, their devastating impact on international trade, development and vital sectors of the economy – are obvious. Sanctions strengthen the monopolisation of markets, contribute to the shortage of raw materials, food, medical and industrial goods, having a negative impact on consumers and the economy as a whole. Against the background of a deficit, shadow trading is flourishing, shadow traders and intermediaries inflate prices even more.”

According to Ms. Belskaya, excessive compliance by banks, insurers, and businesses – regardless of whether they are located in a sanctioning state or based elsewhere – undermines the supply chains of critical goods, medicines, and food to those most in need.

“Sectoral and comprehensive sanctions regimes cannot but affect the interests of the most vulnerable segments of the population, who, like no one else, depend on state support. Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, and Belarus are examples of this at present, and this list may be expanded to include other countries that the West dislikes, since the financial and economic sanctions imposed by Western countries are a political problem. They are an instrument of domination and coercion in international relations. They undermine the spirit of Speightstown and the Bridgetown Covenant, contributing to the deepening of inequality and vulnerability," the diplomat said.