A humanitarian ship carrying 20,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat docked in Samsun, Türkiye, on Thursday, marking a major World Food Program initiative to supply crisis-hit regions, including Syria.

A humanitarian aid ship carrying 20,000 tons of wheat from Ukraine docked at Samsun’s Toros Port as part of the UN World Food Program’s (WFP) mission to support food-insecure regions including Syria.

The Beirut-flagged vessel Brave Commander was welcomed in a ceremony by officials from the WFP Türkiye Office, Turkish Foreign Ministry, Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, and the Samsun Governorship.

Kemal Yildiz, acting deputy governor of Samsun, called the shipment "a symbol of shared conscience and global solidarity." He noted Türkiye’s long-standing role as a major food supplier for the WFP.

Stephen Cahill, WFP country director in Türkiye, highlighted the port of Samsun as a strategic gateway for global food aid. He underscored Türkiye’s key role, revealing the WFP has purchased over $1.1 billion in food from Türkiye in the past five years to distribute worldwide.

"This shipment reflects Türkiye’s leadership in responding to hunger and its commitment to international humanitarian work," Cahill said. "It’s also a call for global solidarity during these fractured times."

Of the 20,000 tons of wheat aboard, 5,000 tons are earmarked for WFP operations in Syria, according to officials.

Ambassador Aylin Sekizkok of the Foreign Ministry emphasized the urgency of the global food crisis, stating, "Over 840 million people face hunger today. These are not just statistics—they represent real human suffering."

Türkiye, leveraging its agricultural capacity and strategic position, continues to play a central role in fighting hunger and promoting sustainable development worldwide.

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