March 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Friday it was setting up a task force to design a mechanism to keep trade flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruptions caused by the
UN Launches Task Force to Protect Strait of Hormuz Trade from Iran Conflict
UN Response to Strait of Hormuz Disruptions
Formation of the Task Force
March 27 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Friday it was setting up a task force to design a mechanism to keep trade flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that disruptions caused by the Iran war risked greater food shortages and humanitarian crises worldwide.
Urgency of Immediate Action
"Immediate action is essential to mitigate these consequences," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Leadership and Structure
U.N. Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, will lead the project, Dujarric said.
Inspiration from Previous UN Initiatives
He said the envisaged task force would draw inspiration from other U.N. initiatives, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative for Ukraine and the UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza.
Engagement with Member States
"The task force will now be in touch with all the relevant member states to see how this can be operationalized," Dujarric said. "We hope that all member states involved will support this, especially for the sake of people ... who are already being impacted."
Potential Global Impact
Threats to Food Security and Energy Prices
Disrupted fertilizer shipments and soaring energy prices are threatening fresh food‑price surges in vulnerable countries, risking a years‑long setback just as many were emerging from successive global shocks, U.N. and other experts warn.
UN World Food Programme Analysis
An analysis released by the U.N. World Food Programme last week warned that tens of millions more people will face acute hunger if the Iran war runs through to June.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Jasper Ward and Howard Goller)
