The United Nations announced on Friday the formation of a task force to establish a mechanism for maintaining trade through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruptions from the Iran conflict could worsen global food shortages and humanitarian crises.
“Immediate action is essential to mitigate these consequences,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
The task force will be led by U.N. Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Dujarric added.
It will draw on lessons from previous U.N. initiatives, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative for Ukraine and the UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza.
“The task force will now engage with relevant member states to explore operationalization,” Dujarric said, urging support from all involved nations, especially for the benefit of those already affected.
Disrupted fertilizer shipments and soaring energy prices are threatening fresh food‑price surges in vulnerable countries, risking a years‑long setback just as many were emerging from successive global shocks, U.N. and other experts warn.
An analysis released by the U.N. World Food Programme last week warned that tens of millions more people will face acute hunger if the Iran war runs through to June.
Source: Dunya News
