United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the establishment of a specialized task force to address current challenges related to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to secure global humanitarian needs. According to a statement distributed by the Spokesperson's Office, the task force will be chaired by the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services Jorge Moreira da Silva, and will include representatives from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Commerce. The statement noted that participation in the task force could be expanded to include other entities. The task force will focus on developing technical mechanisms aimed at facilitating the flow of humanitarian goods, particularly trade in fertilizers and related raw materials, drawing on past UN experiences, such as the Verification and Inspection Mechanism in Yemen, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and the UN's special mechanism for the Gaza sector. It was clarified that the implementation of these mechanisms typically involves consultations with relevant member states and full respect for national sovereignty and other international legal frameworks, with the goal of mitigating potential humanitarian consequences and enhancing the stability of global supply chains. The Spokesperson's Office revealed that the Secretary-General has tasked his Personal Envoy Jean Arnault with leading political efforts and dialogue with relevant parties, supported by the newly established task force, as part of broader efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the current conflict in the region. This UN initiative comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the associated increasing risks to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, which the Secretary-General described as a vital artery for global energy and essential goods supplies. The Spokesperson warned that continued disruptions or damage to this maritime passage would have a negative impact on global food security and agricultural production, leading to wide-ranging humanitarian consequences in the coming months, stressing the urgent need for action to mitigate these effects. In conclusion, the Spokesperson affirmed that the success of today's UN initiative on the Strait of Hormuz would contribute to boosting confidence in the diplomatic track and pave the way for broader political solutions in the region, amidst growing concerns over the escalation of the crisis and its global impact.
