Thursday, March, 19 2026 - The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is severely disrupting the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid, affecting nearly half a million children worldwide, according to Save the Children.
The organization said the war has blocked key air, sea, and
land routes, delaying critical supplies and driving up shipping costs by as
much as 50 percent.
Since the United States and Israel launched military
operations against Iran on February 28, escalating tensions and attacks have
disrupted major shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route
for global trade.
As a result, aid meant for at least 410,000 children and
their families in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen has been delayed or stranded.
A shipment of medical supplies destined for Sudan is
currently stuck in Dubai due to restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz,
putting more than 90 primary healthcare facilities at risk of running out of
essential medicines. These include antibiotics, antimalarials, deworming
treatments, and drugs for pain and fever.
The NGO said it is considering alternative routes, such as
transporting supplies by road through Saudi Arabia to Jeddah before shipping
them to Port Sudan, though this could significantly increase costs.
In Afghanistan, nutrition supplies intended for 5,000
children and 1,400 pregnant or breastfeeding women have also been affected.
Originally planned for shipment via Iran, the supplies may now need to be
airlifted at a cost exceeding $240,000, more than the value of the aid itself.
Similarly, medicines meant for about 5,000 children in Yemen
remain stranded in Dubai, with plans to transport them by road likely to double
logistics costs.
Save the Children warned that the escalating conflict is
having “grave ripple effects” far beyond the region and called on all parties
to allow safe passage for humanitarian aid.
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