Global Food Supply Under Threat Due to Maritime Traffic Disruption, Warns UN Secretary-General

New york: The disruption of maritime traffic in key global chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea, and Bab al-Mandab Strait has exacerbated hunger crises worldwide and requires immediate resolution, stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Speaking to reporters, Guterres emphasized that the global food supply has inadvertently become collateral damage in ongoing conflicts involving nations such as the US, Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, and Yemen. According to United Nations, Guterres highlighted the necessity of keeping maritime routes open, stating that they must not be used as instruments of coercion. The free movement of food, energy, and essential goods is critical to maintaining peace, security, and prosperity globally. The Secretary-General reinforced that it is both a legal requirement and a humanitarian duty to uphold these navigational rights. In the context of the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, commercial shipping has significantly slowed, impact ing the global economy. Both US and Iranian forces have been facilitating limited passage of oil tankers through controlled sections of the strait. This reduction in traffic has led to increased oil prices and higher shipping costs for food and fertilizer, thereby affecting global food costs. Similarly, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Houthi militants backed by Iran have imposed a naval blockade against Saudi-linked shipping. Historically, this strait has seen around 12% of seaborne oil trade, while 20% of the world's oil trade has passed through Hormuz. The disruption has caused significant fluctuations in global oil prices. In the Black Sea, growing hostilities between Russian and Ukrainian forces have endangered ports and cargo ships, posing a threat to the global grain supply. The compounded impact of these conflicts is making food production and shipment more costly, while putting grain exports from major suppliers at risk. Guterres called for adherence to int ernational laws, specifically the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which mandates unobstructed transit passage through international waterways. Although the US, Iran, and Israel have not ratified the treaty, its principles remain critical for ensuring global peace and security. In a potential step towards resolution, Guterres discussed the UN task force led by UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva. Established in March, this task force is focused on ensuring safe maritime transit for humanitarian purposes, initially concentrating on commercial fertilizers. The Secretary-General noted that this initiative could be expanded to include other essential goods and serves as a temporary measure until full navigational freedom is restored. While acknowledging that this mechanism is not a replacement for resolving political conflicts or restoring full navigational rights, Guterres described it as a necessary interim solution to protect the world's most vulnerable populations.