The Middle East crisis has entered its second month, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres issuing a stark warning earlier: the world stands on the edge of a broader war, which would have catastrophic global consequences.
Speaking to the media outside the Security Council chamber, Guterres stated that the current situation is deteriorating rapidly. Israel and the United States continue to launch airstrikes against Iran, while Iran has attacked neighboring Gulf states and threatened to block vessels it deems hostile from passing through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
Guterres stated that with each day the war continues, human suffering increases, the scale of destruction expands, and indiscriminate attacks multiply. Attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are intensifying, and the impact on the global economy, especially on the most vulnerable nations dependent on energy imports, is deepening.
He emphasized that the effects of this crisis are no longer confined to the Middle East. From the Philippines to Sri Lanka to Mozambique, people are facing rising food and energy prices in their daily lives.
He said, "When the Strait of Hormuz is choked, the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations will find no respite."
To curb this escalating trend, Guterres announced he would dispatch his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, to the region to assist ongoing peace efforts. He stated that the "vicious cycle of death and destruction must stop," and urged all parties to provide space and support for diplomatic efforts.
Guterres stressed that any solution must be firmly grounded in international law and the UN Charter, resolving disputes peacefully, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states, and protecting civilians and nuclear facilities under threat in Iran and the wider region as hostilities spread.
Guterres issued a direct appeal to the warring parties: "For the United States and Israel, it is time to stop the war. This war is inflicting immense suffering on people and has already triggered devastating economic consequences."
Simultaneously, he urged Iran to cease its attacks on neighboring countries. He reiterated that the Security Council has condemned these attacks and emphasized the necessity of respecting navigational rights in key maritime channels.
Guterres concluded by saying, "Conflicts do not end by themselves. They end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction. That choice still exists, and action must be taken now."
The UN Security Council recently held a meeting to discuss enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and Arab states in the Gulf region. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Khaled Khiari, stated that the Middle East is standing on the "dangerous precipice."
He condemned the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and reiterated the demands made in last month's Security Council Resolution 2817, which calls for Iran to immediately cease all attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Albudaiwi, told representatives that Iran has attacked critical civilian infrastructure, including airports, oil facilities, residential and commercial areas, fuel depots, service facilities, and diplomatic missions.
He emphasized that the GCC strongly condemns these blatant attacks by Iran, which constitute a gross violation of the sovereignty of GCC states and breach principles of good neighborliness, international law, and the UN Charter. He also stated that GCC countries are not seeking war; they seek the peace, security, and stability that all peoples deserve.
The war in the Middle East and the near-halting of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have exacerbated the energy plight of developing nations in Africa and South Asia, which are heavily reliant on imports of liquefied natural gas, food, and fertilizers.
With Brent crude prices remaining above $100 per barrel, many workers and families are being forced back to using oil and coal, raising concerns about long-term environmental damage. Meanwhile, several countries have announced fuel rationing and a shift to online meetings.
Just over four weeks since Israel and the US began bombing Iran, the conflict has spread to a wider region. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Persian Gulf passageway, was almost immediately disrupted, causing global oil shipping blockages, subsequently affecting supplies of natural gas, coal, transport, food, and fertilizers.
Analyst pointed to Angola as an example, noting that oil-exporting developing nations may see only "limited gains," as many lack domestic refining capacity and must re-import refined petroleum products at higher prices.
Neighboring Zambia faces greater difficulties as it relies on imported refined fuel from the Middle East, particularly the UAE. The least developed countries remain heavily dependent on foreign-produced fertilizer, as its production process itself is heavily dependent on natural gas.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the world's 17 poorest nations need to import over 30% of their grain requirements. More worryingly, these same least developed countries spend more than half of their export earnings on food purchases. This means that rising energy prices will quickly translate into higher food prices, exacerbating existing household hunger risks. Given that many of the poorest nations face heavy debt-servicing burdens, finding a quick solution to the energy crisis is challenging. The UN Secretary-General has repeatedly criticized this and urged the financial sector to advance reforms for fairness, competitiveness, and growth.
Considering the high level of debt many developing countries owe to foreign creditors and years of public expenditure austerity, households are highly likely to pay more for energy, food, and fertilizer while being forced to reduce consumption.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development noted that 15 of the world's least developed countries have not recovered from the turbulent pandemic period and, against this worrying backdrop, are in a worse economic state than in 2019.
Against the backdrop of continuing hostilities involving Iran, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have intensified over the past month, resulting in thousands of casualties. This week, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Fletcher conducted a two-day visit to Lebanon to assess the severe impact of the conflict on the local humanitarian situation.
Currently, evacuation orders issued by Israel affect nearly 15% of Lebanese territory, forcing over 1.1 million people to flee their homes. In shelters, an elderly woman who fled her home due to the conflict told Fletcher that when their village was ordered to evacuate, they had to leave, taking almost nothing with them except the clothes they were wearing. Another displaced person said a family of more than ten was crammed into a temporary shelter, stating, "No matter how much help we get, home is always the best place."
Fletcher noted that each airstrip forces more families to displace; people arrive traumatized, and the needs are enormous. The scale of humanitarian needs in Lebanon continues to grow, but funding is severely insufficient. Of the over $300 million emergency appeal launched previously, only $94 million has been raised, far short of requirements.
During his visit, Fletcher also went to the Lebanon-Syria border. Since the escalation, over 200,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria. Many families expressed a desire to return home and participate in reconstruction.
