Geneva, May 2: The ongoing crisis in the Middle East is no longer confined to the region; it is impacting global humanitarian aid operations. The spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that this situation could significantly affect humanitarian supply chains and aid distribution efforts.
Increased insecurity and instability around crucial maritime routes in the Gulf, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted shipping movements. This has led to rising costs for fuel, food, and freight worldwide. Essential goods have become more expensive, and their supply is facing delays.
Carlotta Wolf stated during a regular press briefing that these rising prices are hitting the most vulnerable populations hardest, including refugees and displaced individuals. Additionally, timely assistance from relief agencies is becoming increasingly challenging.
The closure of major shipping routes has forced reliance on longer and more expensive alternatives, complicating logistics and extending delivery times. Since the onset of the conflict, freight costs from countries supplying essential goods have surged by nearly 18%. Furthermore, the capacity of UNHCR’s transport network has plummeted from 97% to 77% since the beginning of this year.
Wolf noted, “For some shipments, costs have more than doubled; for instance, the transportation of relief supplies for our operations in Sudan and Chad from UNHCR’s global warehouses in Dubai.”
The UNHCR has expressed particular concern about the situation in Africa, where several significant displacement crises are ongoing and often overlooked.
In Kenya, home to one of UNHCR’s global warehouses, a recent 15% increase in fuel prices has delayed shipments to Ethiopia, Congo, and South Sudan, while a shortage of trucks is also being felt. According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, the cost of delivering aid in Sudan has doubled in recent months. Additionally, shipping goods via the Cape of Good Hope is resulting in an extra 25 days of delivery delays.
The spokesperson warned that if instability in the Middle East persists, rising costs, delays, and limited transport capacity could further hinder relief efforts.
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