Katherine is joined by Doug Mercado, head of the area office with the World Food Program in Romania, which is managing the delivery and distribution of food supplies to vulnerable communities in neighboring Ukraine. The impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are felt internally, regionally, and globally, with agricultural production disrupted and access to food supplies limited because of damage to infrastructure and markets. At the same time, both Ukraine and Russia produce wheat and corn for the global market, but the conflict, along with sanctions on Russia, are limiting the distribution of grain globally and driving up prices. Doug's mission day to day? Bring food assistance to 6 million people inside Ukraine. This requires an expanding presence within Ukraine, establishing critical relationships with key institutions, ongoing support from donors, and negotiating with armed forces on the ground.

 

Douglas Mercado is the Head of the Area Office with the World Food Program in Romania, and a guest lecturer at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.