In New York, the acting head of the World Food Programme warned that disruptions on three critical sea routes threaten global food and energy prices and could push more people into hunger.

The three key routes cited are the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Black Sea, where ongoing conflicts and tensions are driving up costs and disrupting trade.

Fighting has allowed Houthi rebels to extend control along Yemen’s western coast and seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major chokepoint linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.

Yemen is highlighted as a particularly affected country, with tens of thousands displaced and more than 18 million people facing acute food shortages—roughly half of the population.

Vulnerable countries are bearing the brunt, as households already spend a large share of income on food, meaning a global price shock could push more people into hunger.

Skau urged states to step up diplomatic efforts to end conflicts, ensure humanitarian access, and protect humanitarian workers.

In Yemen, about 2.2 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition, including half a million with severe acute malnutrition, and the country imports around 90% of its food, heightening sensitivity to trade disruptions.