About 70,000 tons of food are stuck at sea due to the conflict in the Middle East.

About 70,000 tons of wheat and canned goods for the world's poorest countries are stuck on their way by sea due to the conflict in the Middle East. This was reported on March 23 by the Financial Times newspaper.

"The conflict in Iran has put tens of thousands of tons of food aid for the world's poorest countries at risk. The UN World Food Program warns that if the situation does not change, millions of people may face acute food shortages," the article says.

According to Corinne Fleischer, Director of Logistics at the World Food Program, about 70,000 tons of food are stuck on the high seas due to congestion and route changes on global shipping lines. The organization is also forced to redirect some of the cargo overland.

The World Food Program estimates that if the current situation in the Middle East does not change by June, another 45 million people could face severe food shortages — in addition to the 318 million who are already experiencing severe food shortages worldwide.

Charged water: will Iran mine the Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Republic can refer to the experience of the "Tanker War", when almost half a thousand ships were attacked.

On March 17, the UN had already warned about the threat of food famine for millions of people. According to the organization, if the conflict in the Middle East does not end by the middle of the year, 45 million people will be at risk of starvation.

As reported on March 22, Iran confirmed the introduction of fees for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while the cost of transit can reach $ 2 million per ship. The Iranian authorities have already prepared a bill providing for the official collection of fees for "safe transit."

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