The United Nations World Food Programme warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed millions more people into hunger by severely disrupting global food supply chains. The agency said shipping restrictions through the critical waterway have compounded existing food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
The Strait of Hormuz carries a substantial share of the world’s oil and agricultural trade routes. When passage narrows or halts, freight costs rise and deliveries delay, leaving import-dependent countries with fewer supplies and higher prices at markets.
WFP officials described the crisis as accelerating a hunger emergency that already affected tens of millions before the current conflict. Grain shipments, cooking oil, and other staples face longer transit times as insurers and carriers avoid the region.
Humanitarian organizations said the disruption threatens nutrition programs in countries that rely on imported food. The WFP called for restored maritime access to prevent further deterioration of food security across affected populations.
Countries in East Africa and South Asia that depend on imported wheat and rice are among those reporting sharper price spikes at wholesale markets. WFP supply officers said rerouting cargo around the Gulf adds weeks to delivery schedules for emergency food aid.
Import-dependent nations have appealed to shipping insurers to resume coverage for Gulf transit routes.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/6/5/headlines