Paris (TDI): The United Nations has issued a serious warning regarding the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reporting that 45 million more people could face starvation if fertilizer shipments remain blocked.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva in an interview reported that the world has only a few weeks to prevent a massive humanitarian disaster on Monday.
The UN officials noted that approximately one-third of the world’s fertilizers normally pass through Strait of Hormuz a strategic waterway, which has been restricted for months.
The official records show that the disruption is tied to regional retaliatory actions following the conflict launched on 28 February 2026. The UN began sounding the alarm that the lack of ammonia, sulfur and urea would damage global agricultural productivity on 16 April 2026.
Further, the UN has called for a mechanism to allow at least five vessels per day to transit safely. Without these essential inputs the aid agencies fear a crisis that will hit farmers in Africa and Asia hardest.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva said in a post on X, “It’s time to act. Fertilizers and related raw material must be able to transit through the Strait.”
Time is running out.
A third of the world’s fertilizers normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Without a solution, we could be facing a global food crisis within weeks – one that will surely hit the most vulnerable people the hardest.
It’s time to act. Fertilizers and… https://t.co/FsDbeAWZla
— Jorge Moreira da Silva (@UNOPS_Chief) May 11, 2026
He also pointed out that the proposed UN mechanism could be operational within seven days if there is enough political agreement.
A large part of the current urgency stems from the dependency of global harvests on fertilizers moving through the region. The UN representatives mentioned on 21 April 2026 that the disruption of key raw materials was already affecting planting seasons that are now ending in several African nations.
This situation is further involved by the fact that even if the strait reopened immediately it would take three to four months to return to normal operations.
The experts have highlighted that while food prices have not yet exploded, the massive increase in fertilizer costs threatens to send food prices soaring later this year.
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Beyond the logistics of shipping, the UN is working to facilitate a diplomatic solution involving the United States, Iran, and Gulf nations.
The Task Force on the Strait of Hormuz, established by the UN Secretary-General on 27 March 2026 which aims to lead a humanitarian corridor for essential commodities.
The UN is working closely with over 100 countries to gather support for the plan. It has further highlighted that the mechanism is a practical necessity rather than a political statement.
The aid agencies remain on high alert as they monitor the situation in the Strait waiting for the essential security guarantees to restart full-scale fertilizer shipments.
The international community continues to observe these developments closely as the next few weeks will decide the stability of the global food chain.
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability.
