UN Chief Warns Global Food Supplies at Risk Amid Maritime Conflicts

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has raised alarms over the impact of ongoing conflicts on global food supplies, describing them as "collateral damage" in disputes involving the US, Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, and the Yemeni Houthis.

Speaking in New York, Guterres emphasized the critical importance of keeping maritime chokepoints open to ensure the uninterrupted flow of food, energy, and essential goods worldwide. He identified the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Black Sea as key strategic waterways currently affected by military tensions.

Impact on Strategic Maritime Routes

• Strait of Hormuz: Located between Iran and Oman, this route has seen a significant slowdown in commercial shipping due to security concerns. Limited escorts by US and Iranian forces have not prevented rising oil prices and increased container shipping costs.
• Bab al-Mandab Strait: Situated between Eritrea, Djibouti, and Yemen, this passage is under a naval blockade declared by Iran-backed Houthi militants targeting shipping associated with Saudi Arabia, disrupting about 12% of global seaborne oil trade.
• Black Sea: Intensified attacks between Russian and Ukrainian forces have jeopardized grain shipments from two of the world’s largest exporters, further straining global food availability.

Guterres warned that these disruptions are inflating production and shipping costs for food and fertilisers, amplifying hunger and economic hardship, especially for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Legal and Humanitarian Imperatives

The Secretary-General underscored that navigational rights in international waterways are protected under international law, specifically the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which prohibits coastal states from obstructing transit passage. He called for respect of these rights as essential to peace, security, and shared prosperity.

“Maritime chokepoints must never become instruments of coercion,” Guterres stated, urging all parties to cease actions that impede maritime traffic and humanitarian deliveries.

UN Measures to Mitigate Crisis

In response, Guterres highlighted a UN task force established in March to facilitate safe and predictable maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, initially focusing on commercial fertilisers and related raw materials. Led by Jorge Moreira da Silva of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the task force may expand its scope to other essential goods.

While this initiative offers a temporary solution, the Secretary-General stressed it cannot replace the need for full restoration of navigational freedoms and political resolutions to the underlying conflicts.

“This mechanism is not a substitute for fully restoring navigational rights and freedoms, or for the political solutions needed to end these conflicts. But it is a practical first step,” he affirmed.