United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher issued an urgent appeal on Friday, March 13th, requesting all parties involved in the US-Iran war to allow humanitarian aid to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transport routes. Iran has been attacking commercial ships and oil tankers in an attempt to force the United States and the international community to make concessions. With Iran threatening to block this key global trade route and deploying mines, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has become stagnant, leading to a sharp increase in the transportation costs of essential goods like food and medicines.
Fletcher stated in his declaration, “Humanitarian supply chains are fragile. When routes are closed and costs escalate, the aid we can provide will be reduced, and those who are most in need of help are often the first to lose access to aid.”
“We are making every effort to proactively address these disruptions. Humanitarian teams have pre-positioned supplies, are activating alternative supply routes, and are working around the clock to ensure the continuous delivery of life-saving assistance,” Fletcher said.
He emphasized that humanitarian supplies must be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz unimpeded and stated that they are currently engaging in direct dialogue with the conflicting parties to pressure them to maintain open shipping lanes.
The conflict that began on February 28th has now spread across the entire Gulf region. US President Trump announced on Friday that the US military had carried out “one of the most powerful bombing operations in Middle Eastern history,” thoroughly destroying all military targets on Iran’s vital crude oil export hub, Kharg Island.
Trump noted that, out of moral considerations, the island’s oil infrastructure has not been destroyed so far. However, he also issued a warning, stating, “If Iran or anyone else interferes with the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
The global economy continues to be in turmoil due to the uncertainty of the conflict. International oil prices have surged back above $100 per barrel, with Brent crude closing at $103.14 on Friday.
On Wall Street, stock markets have seen a three-week decline due to inflation pressures and geopolitical risks. In the United States, incidents of attacks on Jewish synagogues have been on the rise in various places, fueled by hatred stemming from the war. National security agencies are on high alert in response to the escalating terrorism threats.