The US-Israel war with Iran, which has triggered the biggest oil disruption in history, may dig its talons deeper into something more fundamental.
The conflict, which entered its 20th day on Thursday, poses a dire threat to global food security, World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned while talking to reporters in Geneva.
The West Asia war “threatens global food security since shipping disruptions and higher energy costs reduce the supply and raise the cost of fertiliser”, the WTO director said. Additionally, Okonjo-Iweala appealed for international supply chains to remain open as about one-third of the world's supply of nitrogen fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Okonjo-Iweala emphasised on the need to keep channels open and said, it's "essential to keep global food trade channels open and predictable allowing food supplies to flow to where they are most needed". "A prolonged interruption in supply could ripple through food systems, prompting farmers to reduce their use of fertilisers and plant less input-intensive crops."
Earlier today, the World Health Organization, anticipating the risk of a nuclear fallout, had warned that the consequences would be devastating regardless of the precautions in place.
In an interview with Politico, Hanan Balkhy, the WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said the agency is deeply concerned about the possibility of a nuclear fallout in the region. "The worst-case scenario is a nuclear incident, and that's something that worries us the most," she said, adding that even the highest levels of preparedness would not be enough to prevent widespread harm.
ALSO READ: WHO Sounds Alarm Over 'Worst-Case Scenario Nuclear Incident' Amid US-Israel And Iran War
An Overview Of The War
The Middle East has been on the boil ever since the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, escalating conflict in the regions.
Gulf Countries, such as the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, have found themselves in the thick of the cross fire. The war has resulted in loss of civilian lives in most of these countries.
ALSO READ: Iran Attacks Israel's Haifa Oil Refinery As 'Revenge' For Targeting South Pars Gas Field
Its Oily & Bloody Repercussions
The war has resulted in one of the largest supply disruptions in the history of the global oil market, with countries across facing LPG, and PNG crunch. The global oil supply is likely to remain disrupted until the Strait of Hormuz is released from its chokehold.
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