Doha: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ongoing attacks and disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, particularly around the Bab Al Mandab Strait, are hindering the global flow of energy supplies, fertilizers, and other essential goods.

According to Qatar News Agency, Guterres emphasized that these crises are choking the arteries of global trade and exerting immense pressure on the global food system. The disruptions are leading to higher prices, worsening hunger, declining crop yields, and increased suffering, especially among the world's most vulnerable populations.

Guterres stressed that strategic maritime routes must never become tools of coercion and that global food supplies must never become collateral victims of conflicts. He highlighted the significant economic impact, noting that oil prices remain around 33 percent higher than they were when the war in the Middle East began. Additionally, global container shipping costs have risen by 84 percent compared to a year ago, with fertilizer and other essential input costs also experiencing sharp increases.