UN looks for a short-term solution for moving fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz

The U.N. looks for a quick solution to get cargo ships with fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz, to prevent a global food crisis.

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It's not just oil that has been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. Fertilizer has been stuck, too. And if this dispute between the U.S. and Iran about the control over the strait continues much longer, the United Nations says there could be a massive impact on food security in the world's poorest countries. NPR's Michele Kelemen spoke with a U.N. official who heads a task force looking for a solution.

MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Jorge Moreira da Silva is a Portuguese engineer who runs the U.N. Office for Project Services. He's pitching a short-term fix to help some cargo ships get through the Strait of Hormuz.

JORGE MOREIRA DA SILVA: One-third of all fertilizers in the world are coming from the Persian Gulf, with a high dependence of countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka.

KELEMEN: The global market for fertilizers has already been disrupted, and he says he's seen some alarming data.

MOREIRA DA SILVA: The World Food Programme just published a report saying that in the next few weeks and months, we likely have 45 million people being forced into hunger, starvation. That's why we need a solution.

KELEMEN: We meet at the U.N. offices in Washington, where he's in between meetings. Moreira Da Silva says he's heard concern around the world, and most agree that this can't wait until the U.S. and Iran resolve all their issues. So he wants a new system in the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.N. can clear cargo ships carrying fertilizer and related raw materials.

MOREIRA DA SILVA: It's all about deconfliction, monitoring and verification and reporting.

KELEMEN: The United Nations has experience with getting critical goods through wartime blockades in Ukraine, Yemen and Gaza. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly tells NPR that economic disruptions resulting from Iran's actions are temporary. In an email, she writes, quote, "the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has been successful, and the Strait of Hormuz should open soon." She didn't comment on the U.N. proposal. Moreira Da Silva says his plan is not the long-term solution.

MOREIRA DA SILVA: This is not the new normal. The normal must continue to be freedom of navigation about everything. What we are proposing is a time-bound, short-term exceptional measure to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis.

KELEMEN: And he says he can get U.N. monitors in place in seven days if there's political will to make it happen. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.

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