Ukraine grain ship that was supposed to head to Lebanon is delayed in Mediterranean Sea

• Many Middle Eastern and African nations rely on cheap wheat from Ukraine.
• The war in Ukraine stopped the transport of necessary grains and contributed to a food crisis.

The first grain ship to leave Ukraine's port en route to Lebanon as part of a wartime deal has been delayed, the Associated Press reported.

The ship carrying the grain was supposed to arrive at around 10 a.m. on Sunday at a port in Tripoli, Lebanon. It is unclear what is causing the delay, and the ship is currently anchored in the Mediterranean Sea near Turkey.

The ship is carrying around 26,000 tons of corn for chicken feed, the AP reported.

Many countries in the Middle East and Africa depend on Ukraine for cheap wheat. As the war in Ukraine prevented the shipment of necessary wheat, prices across the world increased.

Ukraine is considered the world's "breadbasket" and Russia and Ukraine combined account for almost a third of the world's wheat exports.

Russia and Ukraine signed a deal backed by the United Nations on July 22 to allow grain exports from blockaded Black Sea ports, helping to avoid "a food shortage catastrophe for millions worldwide."

The delayed shipment comes as Lebanon deals with significant food insecurity, as food prices rise. The AP reported that Lebanon is facing its worst economic crisis in modern history, and an estimated 75% of the country's population is living in poverty.

The value of the Lebanese pound has decreased by over 90%. This comes two years after a massive explosion at Beirut's port damaged the country's main grain silos. A section of the silos collapsed last week.