The rise in food prices due to the conflict in Ukraine could lead to protests in poor countries, warns the WTO.

The Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala claims that the poorest countries in the world may face protests due to rising food prices caused by the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, as reported by Kommersant newspaper.

"We should be very concerned. The impact on food prices and hunger this year and next can be significant. Food and energy are the two most critical aspects in the consumer basket of poor people around the world," Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said in an interview with The Guardian.

She warned about the possibility of repeating protests due to hunger that occurred in the late 2000s as a result of global inflation. According to WTO data, 35 African countries depend on food imports from the Black Sea region. She also noted that Russia and Ukraine are sources of about 24% of global wheat supplies.

"We are speaking with members of our organization and urging them not to worsen the crisis by imposing export restrictions on food," added Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

She also expressed concern that the situation in Ukraine could lead to a disruption in the planting campaign. According to her, Ukraine supplies half of the grains stored by the WTO for distribution to needy countries.

The European Commission forecasts a food shortage in case the planting campaign is disrupted in Ukraine. Experts fear that global food prices could rise by 8-22%. US and French Presidents, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have warned about a possible food crisis.