UN warns of food security crisis over Hormuz closure | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

A senior United Nations official says the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is leading to a lack of fertilizer around the world. He says 45 million people could be "pushed into acute food insecurity" as a result.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, spoke to NHK in New York on Friday. He said a humanitarian crisis can be avoided if even only five or seven vessels carrying fertilizer can pass through the key waterway each day.

He also said, "For developing countries, it will make the difference between having food security or being forced into a humanitarian crisis."

The UN says one-third of the world's fertilizer trade passes through the strait.

Moreira da Silva also urged Iran and the United States to quickly find a solution regarding fertilizers, separately from comprehensive ceasefire negotiations. He said, "A war shall not be a reason to stop the transit of humanitarian aid."

He went on to say that preparations are already in place, such as a mechanism to register ships and have cargo monitored by the UN. He also said the only thing missing is "the political will to allow us to work."