Fighting that erupted in the Middle East last month has led to severe humanitarian and economic consequences, according to the UN Secretary-General. The conflict has resulted in numerous deaths, injuries, and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure across the region, deepening the humanitarian crisis. A critical concern is the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint, which has caused tanker traffic to fall by over 90%. This has severely disrupted the global supply of oil, gas, and essential fertilizers at a crucial time for agricultural planting worldwide. These disruptions threaten food security and global energy markets, with... [Continue Reading]