The Strait of Hormuz crisis: disrupting the passage of fertilizers portends a famine that threatens 45 million people

According to the warnings, The Strait of Hormuz has witnessed major disturbances since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, which led to a practical disruption of the movement of supplies.

The Strait is a major route through which about a third of global fertilizer exports pass, which are mainly headed to major countries such as Brazil, China, India, and a number of African countries.

Disruption of the passage of fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz

Last March, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, formed a working group headed by Moreira. Da Silva to establish a special mechanism to ensure the passage of fertilizers and related raw materials.

These materials include ammonia, sulfur, and urea, which are essential elements in supporting global agricultural production, which makes any disruption in their flow have a direct impact on food security.

Moreira da Silva confirmed that he held consultations with representatives of more than 100 countries to mobilize international support for this mechanism, but the main parties to the conflict, including the United States, Iran, and Gulf states, have not yet shown He was sufficiently convinced of the proposal.

A significant rise in food prices

He warned that the delay in addressing the crisis may lead to a significant rise in food prices as a result of the decline in agricultural production globally, noting that the growing season in some African countries ends in only a few weeks.

He indicated that allowing the passage of a limited number of ships daily may alleviate the severity of the crisis, stressing that solutions are still possible and urgent, but the continuation of the current situation may turn the crisis into a large-scale global humanitarian reality.