Sunday 29 / March / 2026
New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has established a dedicated task force to develop and propose tailored technical mechanisms aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs linked to the Strait of Hormuz and facilitating the flow of fertilizer and associated raw materials. The initiative comes amid mounting concerns that disruption to maritime trade through the strategic waterway could trigger severe consequences for humanitarian conditions and global agricultural production.
According to the UN News Centre, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned that, given the evolving conflict in the Middle East and the persistent risk of escalation, any interruption to shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz threatens to unleash cascading repercussions on humanitarian requirements and farming output in the months ahead. "While the Secretary-General remains fully committed to pursuing a comprehensive and lasting resolution to this conflict, immediate action is essential to avert these looming consequences," Dujarric said.
The task force will be led by UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, who also serves as Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, and will include representatives from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Chamber of Commerce.
Dujarric noted that the initiative draws inspiration from established UN mechanisms, including the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and the Gaza mechanism established under Security Council Resolution 2720. The new framework for the Strait of Hormuz aims to facilitate fertilizer trade, including the transport of related raw materials, while mitigating humanitarian risks.
The mechanism will be activated and operated in close consultation with concerned member states, with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks. If successful, Dujarric added, the effort would also help build confidence among member states regarding the diplomatic approach to the conflict and represent a meaningful step toward a broader political settlement.
