GENEVA — The World Food Programme said Tuesday that the Middle East conflict has caused its most significant supply chain disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the Ukraine war.WFP Director of Supply Chain Corinne Fleischer said 70,000 metric tons of food have been affected, with shipments delayed or stuck in ports due to disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.She said the situation has created widespread bottlenecks, with vessels unable to berth or depart and containers not being offloaded.Fleischer said rerouting shipments around Africa is adding 25 to 30 days to delivery times and increasing shipping costs by 15 to 25 percent.The agency has sought priority cargo access and negotiated waivers on surcharges, achieving cost savings of about $1.5 million so far.Despite these measures, she warned of rising humanitarian needs.Fleischer said projections indicate that 45 million more people could face acute hunger by June.She added that higher costs and logistical challenges could limit the agency’s ability to reach those in need, while also pushing global food prices higher.
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