Currently 70,000 tonnes of food aid is affected by Middle East tensions and shipments are delayed or stuck in ports, says agency's director of supply chain.
The World Food Programme said on Tuesday that the Middle East conflict has caused 'the most significant disruption of supply chains,' affecting 70,000 tonnes of the agency's food.'For us, it's the most significant disruption of supply chains that we have seen since COVID and the beginning of the war in Ukraine,' Corinne Fleischer, director of supply chain, told reporters in Geneva.
She said the agency currently has '70,000 metric tonnes of food that is impacted by the war in the Middle East,' with shipments delayed or stuck in ports due to wider disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.'This has a whole upstream effect on vessels being stuck in ports, not berthing at ports, not leaving ports, containers not being offloaded,' she said, describing 'a whole disruption of a global supply chain.'Fleischer warned the impact extends beyond the Middle East, with rerouting around Africa adding 'about 25 to 30 days of shipping' and increasing costs by 'between 15 and 25 percent of rates.'She said the WFP is seeking priority cargo access and has negotiated waivers on surcharges, achieving 'cost avoidance of about already $1.5 million by now.'Still, she raised an alarm over growing humanitarian needs.“Our projections are that by June, 45 million more people will be acutely hungry,” she said, warning of 'more needs, higher costs, and us not being able to then reach people' with the current low level of financing of humanitarian operations.She concluded by adding that the higher costs and all necessary rerouting translate into higher food prices everywhere, calling it a 'big concern.'
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Multiple Chinese vessels retreat at Strait of Hormuz after Iran warnings in rare ally moveAt least three Chinese-linked vessels reportedly turned back at the Strait of Hormuz after IRGC warnings, signaling an unusual development in China-Iran relations.
Read more »
Chinese-Linked Vessels Turned Back in Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran TensionsMultiple Chinese-linked ships were reportedly forced to turn back after attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, indicating potential strain in Tehran-Beijing relations amidst regional instability. The incident highlights the complexities of navigating international trade and geopolitical tensions.
Read more »
The Strait of Hormuz’s bitter lesson for the European UnionIf the EU is to meet the challenges of the 21st century, it must make judicious use of its hydrocarbons and abandon its futile quest for decarbonization.
Read more »
US renews warning to Iran over Strait of Hormuz closureUS President Trump claims progress in Iran talks while threatening strikes on energy and water infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
Read more »
Trump again warns Iran to open Strait of HormuzPresident Donald Trump said Monday talks to end the war in Iran resumed, but again warned Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S attacks on its oil wells and power plants.
Read more »
Bessent says ‘more and more’ ships moving through Strait of Hormuz, could ease oil price pressureFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »