Social Affairs

Putin using famine as an ‘instrument of war’, Bob Geldof says

Live Aid organiser says sanctions imposed on Moscow by powerful nations over Ukraine invasion not having desired impact

Bob Geldof and artist John Kelly are pictured as the campaigner visited Reen Farm in Co Cork, where a recording of him reading a letter from the famine era was made for use at the West Cork History Festival. Photograph: Andy Gibson
Bob Geldof and artist John Kelly are pictured as the campaigner visited Reen Farm in Co Cork, where a recording of him reading a letter from the famine era was made for use at the West Cork History Festival. Photograph: Andy Gibson
Olivia Kelleher
Tue Jul 19 2022 - 19:53

Russian president Vladimir Putin is using famine as an “instrument of war” following his country’s invasion of Ukraine, according to campaigner Sir Bob Geldof, who believes that vulnerable countries still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic will face related food shortages next year.

Speaking at Reen Farm in Union Hall, Co Cork, where he was prerecording a reading for next month’s West Cork History Festival, Geldof accused powerful countries of lacking commitment in their response to the crisis.

The Live Aid organiser said sanctions imposed on Moscow to date appeared to be having little effect, with Russian oil revenues and production rising this year. “So much for sanctions,” he said.

Geldof said he had no choice but to doubt the commitment of countries such as Germany, which in June promised to expand its military aid to Ukraine and supply additional weapons.

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“This was a big breakthrough for the Germans...Guess what? Seven mortars arrived last week from Germany. Woo hoo. Go Germany,” he said.

“You have to wonder as to the commitment of all of us to them (the Ukrainians). We should have stopped Putin in Crimea. We should have learned our lessons from history endlessly. We didn’t. This will be a constant simmering thing.”

The Boomtown Rats singer said he feared a “big hammer blow” would be felt next year in terms of hunger, particularly in Africa, due to the war’s impact on grain, seed and fertiliser production. He said he did not see Mr Putin agreeing to allow grain to leave Ukraine “unless it is in his absolute interest”.

“So he is using famine as a instrument of war — as a war aim,” he said, adding that he suspects Mr Putin intends to cause unrest in other parts of the world.

“If you take regions like Lebanon and Egypt — Lebanon is 82 percent dependent on grain imports, particularly Russian and Ukrainian grain imports. You have already seen riots in the street with regard to the sort of political logjam but also a great portion of this is to do with bread riots,” he said.

“This will accelerate and in a very volatile land like Lebanon this will spill over. I have no doubt that Putin wants that to happen. He already controls Syria and Syria, in turn, through Hezbollah controls a huge portion of Lebanon. And if they kick off Israel is involved.”

Geldof on Tuesday recorded a reading of NM Cummins letter to the London Times, one of the most well known documents of the Famine period in Ireland, at Reen Farm ahead of the West Cork History Festival, which takes place on August 6th and 7th.

The first day will focus on Black ‘47, with a number of speakers exploring the social, economic and literary legacies of the Famine. On the second day, the festival will cover the Bandon Valley killings of 1922. There will also be a concert each evening. www.westcorkhistoryfestival.org