Maputo, 12/02/2026
The handover ceremony of the Government of Italy’s contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique, under the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine, took place today at the WFP Office in Maputo.
The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Mozambique, Gabriele Annis, the Ambassador of Ukraine, Rostyslav Tronenko, the WFP Country Director in Mozambique, Claire Conan, and the Director for Planning and Information at MINEC, Laura Guambe.
The Grain from Ukraine initiative, proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and implemented by the WFP, was launched to address the global food security consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The conflict has severely affected Ukraine’s agricultural exports—Ukraine being among the world’s leading producers of wheat and vegetable oil—thereby contributing to increased food insecurity in many vulnerable countries, including Mozambique.
In his remarks, Ambassador Annis recalled that the food security of an estimated 70 million people has been directly affected by the events in Ukraine, reaffirming Italy’s firm condemnation of Russia’s aggression and its continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Italy has supported the initiative from the outset with a total contribution of 4 million euros, of which 2.1 million US dollars were allocated to WFP activities in northern Mozambique.
Thanks to this contribution, 523 metric tons of yellow split peas and 415 metric tons of vegetable oil were distributed, benefiting approximately 446,004 people in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado.
The food commodities, shipped from the Port of Odesa and delivered to the Port of Nacala, were stored at the WFP warehouse in Pemba and subsequently distributed.
The ceremony included the symbolic handover of vegetable oil, followed by the screening of a video on distribution activities and a question-and-answer session with the media.
“When nations choose to bind themselves together in pursuit of shared prosperity, they remain united even in times of difficulty,” Ambassador Annis stated. “Through initiatives such as this, Italy reaffirms its commitment to supporting multilateral cooperation and international organizations, which are pillars of a world order founded on shared rules and solidarity toward the most vulnerable populations.”
At a time when international cooperation is being tested by growing geopolitical tensions, this initiative represents a concrete example of solidarity among peoples and of shared commitment to global food security, while strengthening the bonds of friendship between Italy, Ukraine, and Mozambique.
