While UN efforts continue to support affected civilians and de-escalate the conflict, the Secretary-General has emphasized the need to take immediate steps to mitigate the consequences.
Wide-ranging impacts
The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime trade “is stifling the movement of oil, gas and fertilizers at a critical time in the global planting season,” he said.
Tanker traffic has fallen by more than 90 percent, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), threatening agricultural production and global food security.
“The crisis is causing the most significant disruptions to the global humanitarian supply chain since COVID-19 and the start of the war in Ukraine.” added the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.
“Humanitarian supply lines across the Middle East are being severely disrupted, threatening the timely delivery of life-saving food, medical supplies and emergency aid to millions of people.”
With the conflict showing no signs of stopping, the Secretary-General this week announced two major initiatives: the appointment of an envoy to lead UN peace efforts and the establishment of a dedicated task force in the Strait of Hormuz.
Facilitate traffic and avoid crises
The Task Force will work to ensure safe, orderly and reliable transit for humanitarian purposes through the critical maritime corridor.
It will be headed by Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services around the world.
Representatives of the UN trade body UNCTAD, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Chamber of Commerce will also be on board.
“Our goal is to facilitate the trade of commercial fertilizers and the movement of related raw materials. We are prepared to support this life-saving operation,” Moreira da Silva said in a statement published on X.
“There is an urgent need to avoid a massive humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and beyond, including Africa and Asia, which depend on fertilizer imports.”
Inspired by previous initiatives
The Working Group draws inspiration from other UN initiatives, including the Verification and Inspection Mechanism in Yemen, the former Black Sea Grains Initiative on exports from Ukraine, and the UN Special Mechanism for the delivery of aid to Gaza outlined in Security Council resolution 2720 (2023).
“The implementation of the mechanism will be carried out in close consultation with the relevant Member States, with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
“If successful, it would also build confidence among Member States about the diplomatic approach to the conflict and constitute a valuable step towards a broader political solution,” he added.
File photo of Jean Arnault, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.
Appointed UN envoy
The Secretary-General appointed veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault as his Personal Envoy to lead UN efforts on the Middle East conflict and its consequences.
He warned that the conflict was “out of control” and reiterated his call for the United States and Israel to stop the war and for Iran to stop attacking its neighbors.
“It is time to stop climbing the ladder and start climbing the diplomatic ladder and return to full respect for international law,” he said.
Arnault will “do everything possible” to support all mediation and peace efforts, and will be in contact with all parties. It will examine how the conflict is impacting the region and civilians, both there and around the world, as well as the consequences for the global economy.
The envoy has almost 40 years of experience in international diplomacy, especially in the field of peaceful agreements and mediation, and has led UN missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Most recently he served as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and regional issues.