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 rescued officer was the second member of a two-person crew aboard an F-15 aircraft that Iran said it had shot down using its air defense systems. U.S. officials did not provide operational details of the recovery mission, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump confirmed the recovery in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing the operation as one of the most complex search-and-rescue efforts conducted by U.S. forces in hostile territory. He said the airman, a senior officer, had been injured but was in stable condition and under monitoring.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory,” Trump wrote, adding that the operation was carried out without U.S. casualties.The first crew member had already been recovered earlier, according to a Reuters report on Friday.

The aircraft was brought down amid ongoing hostilities between U.S. and Iranian forces following the outbreak of war on February 28.The developments come as Washington escalates its demands on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor that typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Iran’s effective closure of the waterway has contributed to a growing energy crisis and heightened volatility in global markets.Trump reiterated that Iran faces a narrowing window to comply, stating that less than 48 hours remained before potential U.S. action.

His recent messaging has alternated between references to possible diplomatic progress and explicit threats of large-scale military strikes, including against Iran’s power infrastructure.The conflict has already resulted in thousands of deaths and significant disruption across the region, with mounting concerns over long-term economic damage and supply chain instability linked to restricted energy flows through the Gulf.

Iran has not publicly commented on the rescue operation but has previously stated that it deployed newly developed air defense systems in targeting U.S. aircraft operating in its airspace.