The Middle East and Africa could face starvation due to a significant decrease in Russian grain exports caused by sanctions, particularly against Russian seaports, according to Khadzhimurad Belkharoev, an Associate Professor at the Institute of World Economy and Business of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. The world market is expected to have a grain shortage of over 13 million tons this year, leading to increased prices. Russia currently supplies about 20 percent of the world's grain, a quantity that is not easily replaceable.