The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that current global supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East could trigger a major hunger crisis in the months ahead. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, WFP Director of Supply Chain Corinne Fleischer described the situation as the most serious disruption to humanitarian supply chains since the COVID-19 pandemic and the early stages of the war in Ukraine. According to WFP, around 70,000 metric tons of food intended for life-saving operations worldwide have already been affected, with roughly half on chartered bulk vessels and the other half in containers that are either delayed in transit or stuck in ports.
Although WFP does not currently have vessels passing directly through the Strait of Hormuz, the organization says it is being heavily impacted by the wider consequences of instability in the region. Congestion at ports, delayed berthing, and difficulties in offloading containers are creating a ripple effect across global shipping networks. This is reducing container availability, misplacing equipment, and disrupting cargo movement well beyond the Middle East. WFP noted that after COVID-19, it took four to five months for supply chains to stabilize, and the current situation may lead to even longer-term delays, higher transport costs, and extended lead times.
The disruption is having a particularly strong impact on food deliveries to Africa. With many carriers avoiding the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, ships are being rerouted around the Horn of Africa and the Cape of Good Hope to reach Eastern Africa. This alternative route adds approximately 25 to 30 days to shipping times and increases freight rates by 15 to 25 percent due to longer distances, higher fuel consumption, and more expensive fuel. These changes are placing added strain on humanitarian operations that depend on timely and affordable deliveries.
In response, WFP is working directly with shipping companies and vessel owners to secure priority treatment for humanitarian cargo. As the only United Nations agency with its own shipping department, WFP is using its direct relationships with carriers to protect critical food deliveries. The agency has also negotiated waivers on emergency surcharges imposed by shipping lines and ports in high-risk areas of the Middle East. These surcharges, which ranged from $2,000 to $4,000 per container, could have added roughly $200 per metric ton, but their removal has already helped WFP avoid around $1.5 million in extra costs.
WFP is also rerouting shipments to keep supplies moving, even when this significantly increases costs and delivery times. In one example, food bound for Afghanistan had to be diverted multiple times due to regional instability. After supply routes from Pakistan were disrupted, cargo was redirected through Iran, but when conflict escalated there, it was rerouted again to Jebel Ali in Dubai. From there, the food will now travel by land through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and finally into Afghanistan. This alternative route adds around €1,000 per ton and about three extra weeks, but WFP says it may help establish a new land corridor if the crisis continues.
Beyond the immediate logistics challenges, WFP is deeply concerned about the broader humanitarian consequences of rising transport costs and supply delays. The agency stressed that the greatest impact will fall on low-income families who already spend between 50 and 70 percent of their income on food. If the cost of living continues to rise, millions may no longer be able to afford enough to eat. WFP estimates that if the current disruptions continue through June, the number of acutely hungry people worldwide could increase by 45 million, rising from 318 million to 363 million.
The organization also warned that this crisis is unfolding at a time when humanitarian funding is already under severe pressure. With more people in need, higher operational costs, and fewer resources available, WFP fears it may struggle to reach vulnerable populations. Early signs of this pressure are already visible, with local transport costs in Lebanon rising by 45 percent and delivery costs for Afghanistan tripling due to rerouting. WFP says these increases are likely to translate into higher food prices more broadly, making global food insecurity even worse if disruptions persist.
