How does the Middle East war threaten global food security?
The United Nations has announced that the most pessimistic scenarios regarding the repercussions of the Middle East war are already materializing, posing an unprecedented threat to global food security . This warning comes at a critical time, as the world grapples with successive economic crises. UN reports indicate that the ongoing armed conflicts in this vital region are pushing tens of millions of people to the brink of famine, amidst an international inability to contain the escalating crisis and its direct impact on supply chains and international trade.
How do energy shocks affect global food security?
These warnings come just weeks after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which ignited a wider confrontation and caused severe disruptions in global energy markets. The World Food Programme (WFP) explained that the sudden surge in oil prices poses a direct threat to global food security, as the cost of producing and transporting food is closely linked to fuel prices. The WFP had warned last March that if oil prices remained at $100 a barrel, it would inevitably lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, exacerbating the suffering of the most vulnerable populations across all continents.
Shocking figures: Millions face the risk of acute hunger
According to official estimates from the World Food Programme, the ongoing energy crisis could push an additional 45 million people worldwide into acute hunger. These new victims join a long list that already includes some 320 million people suffering from acute food insecurity at the beginning of this year. These figures reflect the true scale of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the expansion of armed conflict and confirm that the economic repercussions of wars do not recognize geographical boundaries, but rather extend to poor and developing societies that rely heavily on imports of basic food commodities.
The Strait of Hormuz and supply chains are in the eye of the storm
Historically, the Middle East has been a vital artery for the global economy thanks to its strategic waterways and vast energy reserves. Today, with the escalation of conflict, the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz stands out as one of the most dangerous scenarios, one that is already beginning to materialize. In this context, Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of the Food and Nutrition Analysis Division at the World Food Programme, stated that closing this vital strait would directly exacerbate global hunger. This is evident in the sharp rise in prices of basic food commodities such as rice and wheat, which many countries rely on importing through these sea lanes, now completely threatened by the ongoing military operations.
Interaction of crises and the challenges of the future of humanity
The repercussions of the Middle East war extend far beyond oil and food prices, intersecting with existing vulnerabilities in the global economy such as inflation, declining incomes, and disruptions to maritime trade through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The United Nations emphasizes that the interplay of these factors is having a tangible and rapid impact on livelihoods and food security. This complex situation demands urgent and coordinated international action to halt the military escalation, secure international shipping lanes, and provide immediate support for humanitarian relief programs to avert a global famine that could be the most severe in modern history.
