US-Israeli War on Iran Could Push 30 Million Into Poverty, UN Warns

The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the devastating humanitarian and economic consequences of a potential war between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition. Alexander De Croo, administrator of the UNDP, stated that such a conflict could plunge more than 30 million people into poverty, with far-reaching implications for global food security and economic stability.

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Even if the war would stop tomorrow, those effects, you already have them, and they will be pushing back more than 30 million people into poverty.

The primary concern highlighted by the UN is the disruption of vital fuel and fertilizer supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. This chokepoint is crucial for global trade, and any conflict there would inevitably lead to a sharp decline in agricultural productivity. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has already cautioned that a prolonged crisis in the strait could trigger a global food catastrophe, with countries like India, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Egypt being particularly vulnerable.

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Food insecurity will be at its peak level in a few months – and there is not much that you can do about it.

Beyond food insecurity, the war's economic fallout is projected to be severe. De Croo noted that the conflict's ripple effects have already shaved off 0.5 to 0.8 percent of global GDP, emphasizing how quickly decades of development can be undone by mere weeks of war. Furthermore, the crisis is straining already stretched humanitarian efforts in other parts of the world, potentially forcing aid organizations to cut back on life-saving assistance to those most in need. The UN's message is clear: the human cost of such a conflict would be immense and long-lasting.

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Things that take decades to build up, it takes eight weeks of war to destroy them.