UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Aug 24 that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine are severely impacting global trade, energy and food supplies by disrupting maritime shipping. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea have restricted the transport of key commodities including oil, fertiliser and grain, driving sharp increases in oil prices, container freight rates and fertiliser costs, further exacerbating global hunger and hardships for vulnerable populations.