Iran crisis hampering aid to refugees as supply chain costs soar, UN warns
The UN refugee agency has warned that the ongoing conflict involving Iran is severely disrupting aid deliveries to Sudan, the site of the world's largest displacement crisis, by increasing shipping costs and transit times. Rising fuel prices, port congestion, and higher insurance premiums due to insecurity in key Gulf routes like the Strait of Hormuz are contributing to the delays. These logistical challenges are compounded by reduced funding and rising costs for food and transport, limiting the UN's ability to support vulnerable populations in Africa.
- ▪Shipping costs for aid from Dubai to Sudan and Chad have more than doubled, rising from $927,000 to $1.87 million due to rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.
- ▪Deliveries now take up to 25 days longer because ships can no longer safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
- ▪The UNHCR's Dubai hub stores the agency’s largest global stockpile of relief items, critical for operations in Africa.
- ▪War-risk insurance premiums for Gulf transits are now between 0.5% and 1.5% of cargo value, adding to transport costs.
- ▪The UNHCR’s $8.5 billion appeal for displaced people is only 23% funded, limiting its capacity to absorb increased logistics expenses.
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Iran crisis hampering aid to refugees as supply chain costs soar, UN warnsSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxThe UN routinely refers to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Sudan as the world’s largest.PHOTO: AFPPublished May 01, 2026, 07:23 PMUpdated May 01, 2026, 07:59 PMListenGENEVA – The cost of sending some aid to Sudan – the world’s largest displacement crisis – has more than doubled due to the Iran war, as shipping disruption pushes up costs and delays the delivery of relief, the United Nations’ refugee agency has warned.Heightened insecurity around key Gulf shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, as well as congestion at ports, rising fuel prices and higher insurance premiums have all hampered the delivery of aid, particularly in Africa, the…
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