The UNHCR warned that the ongoing Iran crisis is disrupting humanitarian supply chains, driving up costs and delaying aid deliveries to refugees, particularly in Sudan, the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The agency said insecurity along key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, along with port congestion, rising fuel prices, and higher insurance premiums, has severely hampered the movement of relief goods.
As a result, aid shipments are being rerouted through longer and more complex routes, including overland transfers and alternative ports, to avoid high-risk areas. These adjustments have led to significant delays, with some routes adding up to 25 days to delivery times.
Transport costs have surged sharply, with the cost of moving relief supplies from Dubai to Sudan and Chad more than doubling to $1.87 million from $927,000, according to UNHCR.
UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf said the rising logistics expenses mean less aid reaches those in need, warning that “every dollar” spent on transport reduces the amount available for displaced populations.
The crisis is further compounded by fuel price increases, truck shortages, and funding gaps, with only 23% of the agency’s $8.5 billion global appeal funded so far.
UNHCR also cautioned that higher fuel and fertilizer costs are pushing up food prices, worsening conditions for millions of displaced people already facing severe hardship.
