War in the Middle East disrupts global refugee aid

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), increased insecurity and instability around major Gulf routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted maritime traffic. The rise in fuel costs, food items, and global freight prices is driving up prices and delaying aid delivery.

“If instability in the Middle East persists, the rise in costs, delays, and limited transport capacity could further constrain humanitarian operations,” said Carlotta Wolf, spokeswoman for the UNHCR, during a regular press briefing in Geneva.

Freight rates from key supplying countries have increased by over 18% since the beginning of hostilities, while the capacity of international transport providers has decreased from 97% to 77% since the start of 2026.

In some cases, costs have doubled, such as transportation from UNHCR warehouses in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Sudan and Chad, rising from about $927,000 to $1.87 million.

The situation is particularly concerning in Africa, where shipments from Kenya to countries like Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or South Sudan are experiencing delays due to a shortage of trucks.

As the HCR’s global operations are only funded at 23% of the total required amount of $8.5 billion, the rise in costs means fewer people can benefit from aid, especially in this period of “limited resources.”

In the most affected countries in the Middle East – such as Iran, Lebanon, or Afghanistan – funding appeals are only at 11% to 30%. This forces humanitarian agencies to allocate more to transportation, at the expense of aid directly given to populations.

Amid these challenges, the HCR continues to provide assistance to critical areas through 160 national warehouses and a global supply network with seven international warehouses.

In response to the crisis, the HCR is redirecting some deliveries to the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, which flows into the Red Sea, or by land from Dubai to the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey.

Each additional dollar spent on transportation is a dollar less that can be dedicated to people forced to flee. The consequences for the people we help are already being felt. In an effort to cope with the crisis, the HCR is rerouting some of its deliveries to the coasts of the Gulf of Aqaba, which flows into the Red Sea, or by land from Dubai to the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey.

Despite these challenges, the HCR continues to provide assistance to the most critical areas through 160 national warehouses and a global supply network including seven international warehouses.

Problems like these risk reducing the scale and speed at which aid can reach those in need, which would have serious consequences for millions of refugees and displaced people around the world. The United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern about the devastating impact of fuel shortages on the most vulnerable populations.

A small farmer in Africa, Asia, or Latin America cannot operate his machinery on his small plot of land, which supports his extended family€&#brvbar; Diesel-powered generators are off, school buses cannot operate, and children are deprived of education.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also fears a shortage of medications and supplies despite cease-fire agreements.Also in Iran, health sector partners have expressed concerns about imminent drug shortages and restricted access to health services due to the consequences of recent intense conflict.The WHO has downgraded its measles risk assessment in Iran from “very high” to “high” based on a review of high national vaccine coverage and no evidence of increased transmission to date.

In Lebanon as well, no major epidemics have been reported in shelters, although “the risk persists due to poor living conditions.” The WHO notes that no major drug shortages are expected in the next six to eight weeks.Overall, despite the cease-fire, the security situation remains “unpredictable”, and following the Israeli army’s evacuation orders, 46 primary health care units and 6 hospitals are still closed.