Humanitarian groups said the conflict has forced them to reroute shipments through longer and more expensive pathways, with transport costs rising sharply due to increased fuel prices and insurance premiums.

The disruption has compounded existing financial strain following reductions in U.S. foreign aid.The World Food Programme said tens of thousands of metric tons of food are currently delayed in transit.

The International Rescue Committee reported that pharmaceuticals intended for Sudan are stranded in Dubai, while hundreds of boxes of therapeutic food meant for malnourished children in Somalia remain stuck in India.

The United Nations Population Fund said it has also delayed shipments of medical equipment to 16 countries, underscoring the scale of the disruption.The United Nations described the situation as the most significant supply chain shock since the COVID-19 pandemic, with costs increasing by up to 20% as shipments are rerouted and delayed.

Aid agencies are increasingly relying on a combination of land, air and sea transport to bypass affected routes. UNICEF said it has shifted vaccine deliveries to Iran via Turkiye by air and road, adding about 10 days to delivery times and increasing costs by roughly 20%.

Save the Children said it has altered supply routes to Sudan, including overland transport through Saudi Arabia and barge crossings of the Red Sea, increasing delivery times by about 10 days and costs by approximately 25%.

The delays risk disrupting supplies to more than 90 primary health care facilities in Sudan.The Doctors Without Borders said rising fuel prices in Somalia have increased transport and food costs, limiting access to care for populations already facing severe food insecurity.Aid groups warned that the impact on global hunger could worsen significantly.

The World Food Programme said that if the conflict continues through June, an additional 45 million people could face acute hunger, adding to nearly 320 million already affected worldwide.The disruption also threatens agricultural production, with around 30% of global fertilizer supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Countries such as Sudan and Kenya rely heavily on imports from the Gulf, raising concerns about planting seasons in regions including East Africa and South Asia.

The United Nations said it has established a task force to facilitate fertilizer trade, but aid agencies cautioned that without a ceasefire and increased funding, humanitarian operations may struggle to meet rising needs.

The United States said it remains a leading contributor to global humanitarian assistance and announced an additional $50 million in emergency aid to Lebanon, including support for the World Food Programme, as it works with international partners to address the growing crisis.

The strike occurred before dawn in an eastern neighborhood of the city, according to the civil defense agency, which operates under the Hamas-run administration in the territory.

Al-Shifa hospital said four bodies and five wounded people were brought in after an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a group of civilians. The casualty figures were consistent with those reported by the civil defense agency.

The Israel military said it was reviewing the reports when contacted for comment.The incident comes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, though strikes have continued intermittently.

Gaza’s health ministry says at least 715 people have been killed in the territory since the truce began, a figure the United Nations considers reliable.Israel has reported five of its soldiers killed since the ceasefire took hold.

Access restrictions and media limitations in Gaza have made independent verification of casualty figures difficult.

Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which had largely halted nearly two years of conflict in the territory.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said an estimated 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran and 1 million in Lebanon, highlighting the scale of the crisis as needs continue to rise.

UNHCR said it requires an additional $61 million in Lebanon alone to support around 600,000 displaced people over the next three months. The agency, which cut 30% of its workforce last year due to funding shortages, warned that declining global humanitarian financing is undermining its ability to respond effectively.

“The drop in global humanitarian funding is having a major impact at the very moment as needs are rising sharply,” the agency said, adding that reduced staffing and resources are limiting operations as displacement accelerates.

The World Food Programme warned that nearly 45 million more people worldwide could face acute hunger if the conflict continues into mid-year and oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.

Carl Skau, the agency’s chief operating officer, said the war’s economic ripple effects would disproportionately hit vulnerable populations already struggling to meet basic food needs. “Without an adequately funded humanitarian response, it could spell catastrophe for millions already on the edge,” he said.

Aid groups also pointed to the financial cost of the conflict, noting that the United States spent $11.3 billion in the first week alone, as a contrast to the funding shortfalls facing humanitarian operations.

They warned that without immediate donor support, the combination of displacement, rising food insecurity and economic disruption could deepen the global humanitarian crisis in the months ahead.

Speaking at UN headquarters, Guterres said the conflict had exceeded even worst-case expectations, warning of a potential global catastrophe if fighting continues.

He reiterated that diplomacy and adherence to international law remain the only viable path to de-escalation.

Guterres urged Tehran to stop strikes against regional states, noting that the United Nations Security Council has already condemned such actions and demanded their cessation. He also stressed the importance of safeguarding navigation rights in critical waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He called on Washington and Israel to bring the war to an end, citing rising civilian casualties and intensifying humanitarian and economic consequences. “This has gone too far,” he said, warning against further escalation.

The UN chief said the prolonged disruption of maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, is constraining the flow of oil, gas and fertilizers at a crucial time for global agriculture, amplifying economic shocks and threatening food security.

He warned that the conflict’s repercussions are disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, with humanitarian operations under increasing strain as violence spreads across multiple fronts.

Referring to his recent visit to Lebanon, Guterres cautioned against further deterioration there, calling on Hezbollah to halt attacks into Israel and urging Israel to stop strikes in Lebanese territory.

He warned that the humanitarian crisis seen in Gaza must not be repeated in Lebanon.Guterres said he remains engaged with regional and international stakeholders and announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to coordinate diplomatic efforts related to the conflict and its broader consequences.

He emphasized that ending the war remains the most effective way to mitigate global disruption, reiterating that “peace is the way out.”