Middle East war disrupting food aid deliveries at ‘worst possible time’, warn humanitarian groups

The war on Iran is disrupting food aid deliveries around the world, threatening vulnerable communities already facing hunger and food insecurity, warned the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday (Mar 31).

The current supply chain disruptions are the most significant since COVID-19 and the start of the war in Ukraine, said the agency’s supply chain chief Corinne Fleischer.

About 70,000 metric tonnes of aid have been affected, with some supplies stranded in ports, she noted. This is estimated to be enough to feed more than 800,000 people for three months.

While WFP does not ship food through the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict is driving up fuel costs, disrupting global shipping routes and forcing vessels to reroute or remain idle.

Alexander Matheou, Asia Pacific director at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said rising costs and longer delivery times are worsening the humanitarian situation.

“The cost of shipping has gone up between 70 and 300 per cent because of rerouting, congestion insurance costs. The cost of land routes is also up around 50 per cent, sometimes 70 per cent, because they have to cross more borders,” he told CNA’s Asia Now on Wednesday.

Air freight has also become more expensive, rising between 50 and 70 per cent due to increased demand and fuel prices, he added.

Countries such as Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Palestinian territories rely heavily on food aid to support populations affected by conflict and economic instability.

The disruption is also affecting shipments to Afghanistan, where 17 million people are food insecure.

Until recently, aid deliveries passed through Iran, but they must now be rerouted overland through multiple countries, adding weeks of delays and significantly higher costs.