Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General, has expressed concern over the current situation, stating that a combination of factors including the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 crisis, and climate change are putting many developing countries at risk of economic devastation. The UN's first official report on the impact of the war in Ukraine highlighted the "alarming cascading effects" on the global economy, with up to 1.7 billion people, a third of whom are already living in poverty, facing disruptions in food, energy, and finance. Rising energy prices, inflation, and stalled development are leading many countries to risk defaulting on their debts, particularly those with limited resources and high debt burdens. The report stated that 107 countries are severely impacted by at least one of the three dimensions of the crisis, with 69 of those countries experiencing severe exposure to all three dimensions. Ukraine and Russia are responsible for approximately 30% of the world's wheat and barley production. As a result of the war, commodity prices have reached record highs, with food prices up by 34% compared to last year and crude oil prices up by around 60%. The report emphasized that vulnerable populations in developing countries are particularly affected by these price increases, which could lead to social unrest. However, the report also mentioned that swift action, political will, and existing resources could help mitigate the impact. Recommendations included not hoarding food supplies, supporting small farmers, stabilizing freight costs, lifting export restrictions, making strategic fuel reserves available, and reducing the use of wheat for fuel. Text = Copyright belongs to The New York Times Company.