Prioritize Multilateralism to Resolve Iran War Deepening Humanitarian Crisis, Says OSF Vice President

by Oritro Karim (united nations)Tuesday, October 06, 2026Inter Press Service UNITED NATIONS, October 6 (IPS) - Seven months into the Iran War, threats of further military escalation and stalled efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have heightened fears of worsening humanitarian suffering and wider regional instability. Pedro Abramovay, Vice President of Open Society Foundations (OSF), told IPS that the international community should empower local actors and middle powers to work together toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict.“One of the things we are on the brink of right now is one of the largest food security crises in the world,” Abramovay said, describing the prospect as “particularly alarming.”He spoke to IPS on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81).“It is a consequence of three elements: Hormuz being closed, the availability of fertilizers, and the cost of food,” he said.Abramovay said the war in Ukraine has already had a lasting impact on wheat and grain production, while expectations of a strong El Niño, which could bring severe weather disruptions and extreme heat, were adding to economic risks.These pressures are particularly acute for de...