ANTALYA: A senior United Nations official urged Iran and the United States on Saturday to allow fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that continued restrictions could leave millions facing hunger and poverty.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), made the appeal during COP31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey.
He called for an immediate, temporary arrangement to restore fertiliser shipments while Washington and Tehran continue negotiations over the wider conflict. “Basically what we need is five vessels a day with fertilisers,” Moreira da Silva said.
Iran restricted shipping through the waterway after joint US-Israeli attacks in late February. A separate US blockade of Iranian ports has complicated maritime trade.
Before the conflict, roughly one-third of the world’s fertilisers passed through the strait, Moreira da Silva said. He said fertiliser prices had risen by 30% since the blockades began.
The disruption has affected countries that depend heavily on imported agricultural supplies. Moreira da Silva identified Mozambique, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka among the most vulnerable.
Read: Iran Blames US Hormuz Disruption Simpsons ‘Controlled Burn’ Meme
Sudan’s finance minister told him that food prices had doubled over six months. Officials in Nepal also warned that farmers could no longer afford fertilisers.
Moreira da Silva warned that missed planting seasons could expose 45 million people to severe and acute food insecurity. He said another 30 million people could fall into poverty if fertiliser shortages continue.
Read: Hormuz Standoff Deepens as Iran Warns US
The UN official leads a task force that helps fertiliser shipments pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. He urged both countries to separate emergency agricultural supplies from broader conflict negotiations.
According to Moreira da Silva, the United Nations has a mechanism ready to restart fertiliser shipments within seven to 10 days.
With additional input from AFP
