Aid agencies have warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the supply of food and medicines to millions of people worldwide. 

 

The World Food Programme said large quantities of food are delayed in transit. The International Rescue Committee has reported that medical supplies meant for Sudan and food aid for Somalia are also stuck. The United Nations Population Fund has delayed sending equipment to several countries, while the United Nations has termed this the biggest supply disruption since COVID, with costs rising by up to 20 per cent.

 

Key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have been affected, while routes from major hubs like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi are also facing disruptions. This has increased transport and insurance costs, forcing aid groups to use longer and more expensive routes.

 

Aid groups say the situation has worsened due to cuts in US foreign aid. Meanwhile, the conflict has triggered fresh humanitarian concerns, with nearly one million people displaced in Lebanon.