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International shipping companies have imposed $3,000 “war risk” surcharges on containers headed to Yemen, citing escalating tensions from the US-Israel conflict with Iran and risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen’s government has rejected these fees, arguing that Yemeni ports remain safe and are distant from conflict zones, instructing that the surcharges not be paid.

The timing is catastrophic for Yemen, which imports 90% of its food and essential goods. The country has endured over a decade of civil war that began in 2014 when Houthis seized the capital Sanaa, followed by a Saudi-led coalition intervention in 2015. This war has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing famine. The new shipping costs threaten to drive up prices for basic necessities in a population already struggling with extreme poverty and food insecurity, potentially worsening conditions for civilians who have borne the brunt of years of conflict and blockade.

Sources:

• Yemeni ports face shipping fee hike amid Iran conflict | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera
• China calls for vessels in strait of Hormuz to be protected amid soaring shipping costs | Shipping industry | The Guardian
• Iran war cost will be passed to consumers, shipping giant boss tells BBC
• Strait of Hormuz escalation rattles global shipping with war levies and insurance cover cuts | The National

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