Aug 24 — UN Secretary-General Guterres said ongoing Middle East and
Russia-Ukraine conflicts are disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,
Red Sea and Black Sea, constraining oil, fertilizer and food shipments and
lifting oil, container freight and fertilizer costs. The UN has set up a task
force that plans to establish a UN‑coordinated registry, verification,
monitoring and de‑confliction mechanism, with an initial focus on safeguarding
fertilizer and related raw-material shipments. Guterres said the mechanism would
not alter states’ sovereignty or replace political efforts to restore freedom of
navigation, but could serve as a pragmatic first step to reduce risk, secure
essential supplies and rebuild trust.
