Statement by Tom Fletcher, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: Closure of Hormuz could have ‘immense impact’ on humanitarian operations

The consequences of the war in the Middle East do not stop at the front lines. Beyond the impact on civilians, the fallout will ricochet through markets, shipping and aviation routes, and food prices – across the region and around the globe.

The impact on our lifesaving humanitarian work will be immense. Millions of people are at risk.

We are already seeing this play out. Fuel prices have soared, driving up global shipping costs. Flight and maritime disruptions have slowed the movement of goods and personnel, putting humanitarian supplies at risk of six-month delays. Global supply chains are under strain.

And traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most vital trade corridors – has slowed to a trickle. When ships stop moving through that Strait, the consequences travel fast. Food, medicine, fertilizer and other supplies become harder to move and more expensive to deliver.

We are doing everything we can to stay ahead of these disruptions. Humanitarian teams have pre-positioned stocks. They are activating alternative supply routes and working around the clock to keep life-saving aid moving. I am speaking directly with key parties, pressing for humanitarian supplies to be allowed to keep moving unobstructed through the Strait.

Humanitarian supply chains are fragile. When routes close and costs surge, the help we can deliver shrinks – and the people who need it most are the ones who lose it first.

So, my message to the parties to the conflict and all those with influence over them is simple: humanitarian cargo must be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

13 March 2026

Media contacts:

In New York: Eri Kaneko, kaneko@un.org, +1 917 208 8910

In Geneva: Vanessa Huguenin, huguenin@un.org, +336 98 34 31 76