UK to fund 2 million pounds of food supplies for encircled Ukrainian cities

Britain said on Saturday it wouldfund2millionpounds($2.6million) worth of vitalfoodsuppliesfor areas ofUkraine which areencircledby Russian forces following a direct request from theUkrainian government.

Just over a month after Moscow invadedUkraine in what it describes as a "special military operation", Russian troops have failed to capture any majorUkrainiancitiesand have resorted to pounding them with artillery and air strikes.

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Worst hit has been the eastern port of Mariupol, a city of 400,000 under siege since the war's early days. Tens of thousands of people are still believed to be trapped inside with no access tofood, power or heating.

Britain said around 25 truckloads of driedfood, tinned goods and water will be transported by road and rail from warehouses in Poland and Slovakia to the most at-riskUkrainian towns andcities.

"The need on the ground inUkraine is clear, with so many people inencircledareas trapped in basements without access tofoodor water," Alice Hooper, the British Foreign Office's Humanitarian Adviser, said in a statement.

"We are working with partners at the borders to ensure these vitalUKsuppliesreach the places they are needed most as quickly as possible."

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