Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The world faces a new \u201cdoomsday\u201d threat\nthat no longer stems solely from wars and energy crises, but also from\nthe potential for mass starvation due to stalled global fertiliser\ndistribution in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
The United Nations (UN) warns that 45 million people risk\nexperiencing hunger and malnutrition if the strategic shipping route\ncontinues to be blockaded.<\/p>\n
Head of the UN task force for preventing humanitarian crises, Jorge\nMoreira da Silva, stated that the world now has only a few weeks to\nprevent a global food disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the coming weeks, we must prevent what could become a massive\nhumanitarian crisis,\u201d Moreira da Silva told AFP in Paris, quoted on\nTuesday (12\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may witness a crisis forcing an additional 45 million people to\nexperience hunger and malnutrition,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
The Strait of Hormuz has long been a vital route for world trade,\nincluding for fertiliser and agricultural raw material distribution.\nAround a third of global fertiliser trade passes through the area.<\/p>\n
However, over the past months, Iran has tightened shipping access in\nthe Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the war launched by the United\nStates and Israel since 28 February.<\/p>\n
As a result, distribution of essential materials such as ammonia,\nsulphur, and urea has been disrupted. These commodities are crucial for\nfarmers in various countries to meet planting seasons. The UN fears the\nimpact of this crisis will hit developing countries in Africa and Asia\nhardest, which heavily rely on fertiliser imports.<\/p>\n
The UN Secretary-General has even formed a special task force since\nMarch to open fertiliser distribution routes through the Strait of\nHormuz.<\/p>\n
Moreira da Silva also revealed he has met with more than 100\ncountries to garner international support. However, to date, there has\nbeen no full support from key parties such as the United States, Iran,\nor Gulf countries, which are major global fertiliser producers.<\/p>\n
According to him, several African countries have only a few weeks\nbefore the planting season ends. If fertiliser fails to arrive on time,\nglobal food production is estimated to drop dramatically and trigger a\nsurge in global food prices.<\/p>\n
He also warned that fertiliser costs have already seen a \u201cmassive\nincrease\u201d, which could worsen pressure on the global agricultural\nsector.<\/p>\n
The UN estimates that an emergency mechanism could actually be\nactivated within seven days. However, even if shipping routes are opened\nnow, fertiliser distribution is expected to return to normal in three to\nfour months.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-doomsday-threatens-earth-45-million-people-at-risk-1778637162", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }