UN Aid Chief Urges Safe Passage for Humanitarian Supplies Amid Middle East Conflict

Kathmandu. The United Nations aid chief on Wednesday urged that humanitarian aid shipments be allowed 'passage' as the Middle East conflict is affecting the routes for supplying humanitarian assistance.

The conflict in the Middle East has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, with rising fuel supply disruptions increasing freight rates.

United Nations Aid Chief Tom Fletcher stated that the escalating conflict and its impact on the Strait of Hormuz are directly affecting our humanitarian aid supplies. This is immediately impacting supplies to key need areas, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"Further escalation of the conflict has also damaged other supply routes," he told reporters in Geneva.

"Conflict raises prices and pushes more people towards greater need for goods," he said.

He further added, "Therefore, we appeal to all parties to try to secure these routes, including the 'Strait of Hormuz,' for our humanitarian aid transport. We must be able to reach anyone, anywhere, based on need, not politics."

"We are currently living in a moment of grave danger," Fletcher said. "We are seeing these crises escalating rapidly and colliding in dangerous ways," he said.

"The fighting over the last two weeks has further confirmed that 'we are living amidst brutality, impunity, and indifference,'" he said, "the rules-based temporary framework for stopping the worst excesses of war is eroding.'"

He added, "More frightening measures that broadly kill humanitarian ingenuity are being adopted. Civilians are becoming victims of even more heinous violence."