Middle East war is blocking the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid, leaving nearly 500,000 children at risk across several countries, according to Save the Children. The conflict has disrupted key air, sea, and land routes, delaying critical supplies and pushing shipping costs up by as much as 50 percent.
Since military operations began on February 28 between the United States, Israel, and Iran, rising tensions have affected major shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global trade. Humanitarian shipments that once moved reliably are now stuck or delayed, threatening the health and survival of children in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen.
Medical supplies intended for Sudan are currently stranded in Dubai because ships cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Over 90 primary healthcare facilities face the prospect of running out of essential medicines, including antibiotics, antimalarials, deworming treatments, and pain and fever medication. Aid workers are exploring alternatives, such as transporting supplies by road through Saudi Arabia to Jeddah and then shipping them to Port Sudan, but the change could sharply raise costs.
In Afghanistan, nutrition supplies for 5,000 children and 1,400 pregnant or breastfeeding women have been delayed. The shipment, originally planned through Iran, may now need to be airlifted at a cost exceeding $240,000, more than the value of the aid itself. Similarly, medicines for 5,000 children in Yemen remain stuck in Dubai, with overland transport projected to double logistics expenses.
Save the Children called the situation “grave,” emphasizing that the conflict’s ripple effects reach far beyond the region. The organization urged all parties to allow safe passage for humanitarian aid, stressing that urgent action is necessary to prevent worsening crises worldwide. Without immediate solutions, food, medicine, and essential supplies may fail to reach those who need them most.
