The economic fallout of the ongoing crisis linked to Iran is set to push more than 30 million people back into poverty, according to Alexander De Croo, who warned of a deepening global humanitarian emergency.
Speaking to Reuters, the United Nations development chief highlighted that disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies are already impacting agricultural cycles, particularly as farmers enter crucial planting periods. The situation has been worsened by constraints in maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global trade.
Fertiliser shortages are already reducing agricultural productivity, with further declines in crop yields expected later this year. According to United Nations Development Programme, the ripple effects will intensify food insecurity worldwide in the coming months.
De Croo warned that food insecurity could reach peak levels soon, alongside broader economic pressures including energy shortages and declining remittances. He stressed that even an immediate end to the conflict would not reverse the damage already done.
The warning underscores the far-reaching consequences of the crisis, extending well beyond the battlefield into global food systems and economic stability, with vulnerable populations expected to bear the heaviest burden.
