Chicago – May 12, 2026
A United Nations official has warned that millions of people could face hunger if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked amid the ongoing regional crisis. The strategic waterway, through which nearly one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply normally passes, has been severely disrupted due to tensions linked to the Iran conflict.
According to the UN task force on the crisis, delays in fertilizer shipments could badly affect global farming seasons, especially in Africa and Asia, where many countries depend on imported agricultural supplies. UN official Marcos Neto said the world could see “45 million more people pushed into hunger and starvation” if trade routes are not reopened quickly.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil, gas, and fertilizer exports. Since the escalation of fighting between Iran, the United States, and regional allies, shipping traffic has faced attacks, blockades, and rising security threats. Analysts warn that prolonged disruption could increase food prices worldwide and deepen humanitarian crises in vulnerable nations.
The UN is now urging major powers and Gulf countries to support emergency measures allowing safe passage for fertilizer shipments before critical planting seasons end.
