Every fifth family in Ukraine faces food shortages due to the consequences of the war, World Food Program (WFP) representative in Ukraine Matthew Hollingsworth said at a UN Security Council meeting, Ukrinform reports.

It is reported that Ukraine, which used to regularly provide food to 400 million people around the world, is now facing serious food challenges, especially in 80% of the settlements located near the front line.

Hollingsworth pointed out that approximately one in five Ukrainian families faces varying levels of acute food shortages, especially in the areas of hostilities. More than 900,000 people who remain within 30 kilometers of the front line are in need of food, especially in winter.

According to the program representative, WFP will provide food to about 750,000 of these people during the winter. In addition, another 1.5 million will receive cash assistance in the areas directly affected by the hostilities.

He said that since mid-July, 31 attacks on facilities critical to grain production and export have been documented. 28 of them were in Odesa region, where the "vital" Black Sea sea and Danube river terminals are located, "essential for world trade and food production."

By February 2022, Ukraine accounted for 9% of global wheat exports, 15% of corn, and 44% of sunflower oil. Ukraine has already suffered $40.2 billion in losses in the agricultural sector, he said.