Coda Story | Ukrainska Pravda, 2024
Author(s): Kenneth R. Rosen
For much of 2023, Kenneth R. Rosen worked with reporters across the globe to examine the war in Ukraine and create a weekly newsletter for Coda Story covering the fallout from the war.
Rosen looked beyond the impact in Ukraine and focused on the conflict’s effects across the globe. By tapping into a network of reporters, Rosen spotlighted the impacts of the war that were often underreported.
One of his newsletters examined how the war was creating hunger and food supply chain issues in Peru — a country classified as upper-middle income by the World Bank that can produce all the food it needs. Peru, like many other Latin American countries, depended mostly on Russia for fertilizer. Because of the war, fertilizer costs surged from around $250 to $925 per ton ultimately leading to food shortages and price increases in Peru.
In another edition, Rosen looked at the rising cost of food in Somalia, where record prices had been reached even before the war. The cost of five gallons of water for residents at resettlement camps had doubled pre-war costs. Water is often trucked in, and an increase in fuel prices means less water for vulnerable areas, leading to more infectious diseases. Transportation costs also influenced the jump in the price of a nutritious food paste distributed by aid organizations. The price went from $50 to $130 per 15 kilograms.
Rosen’s work went beyond what was being covered every day concerning the war in Ukraine and added new context. Rosen’s newsletters showed the power of commentary writing and its ability to engage readers and address issues directly.
Article by: Abbi Ross