By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated food insecurity worldwide, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said to a high-ranking panel Tuesday.

Yellen stated that 800 million people, or 10%, were already suffering from food insecurity before World War II. She cited early estimates which showed that rising food prices could cause at least 10 millions more people to become poor.

Yellen informed the panel that countries need to avoid restrictions on exports that can further raise prices and that it was important for them to help vulnerable communities as well as smallholder farmers.

“I want to be clear: Russia’s actions are responsible for this,” Yellen said, adding that the United States was working urgently with partners and allies to “help mitigate the effects of Russia’s reckless war on the world’s most vulnerable.”

Russia refers to its actions as a “specially military operation.”

Yellen emphasized Washington’s determination to authorize essential humanitarian assistance and ensure the availability of food, agricultural and nutritional commodities for people all over the globe. This was despite the fact that it continues to escalate its economic sanctions against Russia.

Her statement stressed the need to improve longer-term resilience. She called upon the international financial institutions for assistance in addressing the global shortage of fertilizer and smooth supply chain disruptions to food and essential supplies.

She suggested that they increase agricultural resilience and capacity to improve domestic food production.