DID Press: Netherlands has expressed concern over the renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, warning that prolonged conflict could worsen global food shortages and trigger a new wave of migration.
The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation said during a trade visit to Shanghai that the escalation was “highly concerning” and could have serious consequences for global food security.
She warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass, have also affected the transportation of agricultural fertilizers.
According to the Dutch official, prolonged disruptions in fertilizer shipments to parts of Africa and Asia during planting seasons could reduce agricultural output this year and potentially affect future harvests if the crisis continues.
She added that major humanitarian organizations have reported a growing number of people being displaced in Africa and Asia due to the consequences of the crisis, warning that continued instability could develop into a “complex humanitarian crisis” involving hunger and displacement.