Tens of millions of people could face hunger and starvation "within a matter of weeks" if the passage of fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz is not allowed, a UN working group official told AFP on Monday.
In retaliation for the offensive launched by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic at the end of February, Iran has been blocking the Strait of Hormuz for months, a waterway through which approximately one-third of the world's fertilizers used to transit before the conflict.
Exports that pass through this strategically important maritime route are generally destined for Brazil, China, India, and African countries.
"We have a few weeks to prevent what will likely be a humanitarian crisis of significant magnitude," said Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and leader of the working group whose goal is to prevent an imminent humanitarian crisis, in an interview with AFP.
"We could witness a crisis that will push 45 million more people into hunger and starvation," he added.
In March, UN Secretary-General António Guterres created a working group, led by Moreira da Silva, to establish a mechanism that would allow the passage of fertilizers and related raw materials such as ammonia, sulfur, and urea.
The Portuguese official stated that he has met with representatives…
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A conceptual map of the world shows disrupted shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, with barrels of oil, fertilizers, and food falling like dominoes towards Central America, symbolizing geopolitical tensions. (Illustrative Image, Infobae) Tens of millions of people could face hunger and starvation "within a few weeks" if the passage of fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz is not allowed, a UN working group official told AFP on Monday. In retaliation for the offensive launched by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic at the end of February, Iran has been blocking the Strait of Hormuz for months, through which approximately one-third of the world's fertilizers used to transit before the conflict. Exports that pass through this strategic maritime route are generally destined for Brazil, China, India, and African countries. "We have a few weeks to prevent what will likely be a major humanitarian crisis," said Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and leader of the working group aimed at preventing an imminent humanitarian crisis, in an interview with AFP. A worker stands next to bags of fertilizer being unloaded from a cargo ship at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China. February 15, 2025. cnsphoto via REUTERS. "We could witness a crisis that will push 45 million more people into hunger and starvation," he added. In March, UN Secretary-General António Guterres created a working group, led by Moreira da Silva, to establish a mechanism that would allow the passage of fertilizers and related raw materials such as ammonia, sulfur, and urea. The Portuguese official says he has met with representatives from more than 100 countries to secure support from UN member states for this mechanism. However, the initiative does not convince the parties involved in the conflict: the United States, Iran, and Gulf countries. "The problem is that the planting season doesn't wait," emphasized Moreira da Silva, as some crops in African countries are harvested in just a few weeks. A man working in a cornfield. (Photo: Archive) According to him, the passage of five ships loaded with fertilizers and related raw materials per day would allow farmers to avoid a crisis. "It's a matter of time. If we don't quickly address the root of the crisis, we will have to manage the consequences with humanitarian aid," he added. If an agreement is reached, the mechanism could be operational in seven days, according to the UNOPS official. According to him, even if the strait were to reopen immediately, it would take at least four months to return to normal. Although food prices have not yet skyrocketed, Moreira da Silva reported a "significant increase" in the price of fertilizers, which experts say will inevitably lead to a decrease in agricultural productivity and, ultimately, an increase in food prices. Ships and oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer. "We cannot keep debating something that is possible and urgent: allowing the passage of fertilizers through the strait, and thus minimizing the risk of a serious global food insecurity," he insisted. (with information from AFP)