UN: Closure of Strait of Hormuz Worsens Hunger Crisis in Yemen and Other Countries

Yamen Monitor / Newsroom:

The United Nations has warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is further exacerbating the food crisis in several countries suffering from famine, including Yemen, along with Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), explained in a statement on Tuesday that the escalation in the region “goes far beyond the borders of conflict-affected countries,” noting that most of the immediate consequences will impact developing nations in Asia and Africa.

According to the UN press office, da Silva stated that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten energy supplies and affect fertilizer prices, which heightens the risk of food insecurity and makes it even more difficult for food to reach the most vulnerable populations in Yemen and other affected countries.

The UN official predicted that the number of people suffering from hunger worldwide would increase by tens of millions within a single year. He warned that the escalation of the conflict in the Gulf could also threaten remittance flows, which represent a vital resource for millions of families in Yemen and South Asian countries.