Geneva: The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported significant disruptions to global supply chains due to conflicts in the Middle East, posing a threat of escalating hunger crises worldwide. The organization warns that these disturbances, the most severe since the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, are causing delays and heightened costs in food deliveries essential for life-saving operations.

According to United Nations World Food Programme, a total of 70,000 metric tons of food intended for humanitarian aid are currently impacted by the conflict. This includes shipments on chartered bulk vessels and containers either en route or stuck in ports. The ripple effects of the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are particularly concerning, causing vessels to be stranded, containers to be displaced, and capacity constraints to emerge globally.

The rerouting of vessels to avoid the Suez Canal and Red Sea, now passing through the Horn of Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, is adding significant delays and increasing shipping costs by 15 to 25 percent. In response, the WFP has prioritized cargo for humanitarian operations, negotiated waivers for surcharges, and explored alternative routes for food deliveries. Despite these measures, the organization remains concerned about the long-term impact on food security, projecting an increase in the number of acutely hungry individuals from 318 million to 363 million if the situation persists.

The conflict and subsequent supply chain challenges are causing food prices to rise globally, with local transport costs in Lebanon already up by 45 percent and costs in Afghanistan tripling due to necessary rerouting. The WFP is urging for increased funding to sustain humanitarian operations amid higher costs and growing needs.