GENEVA, March 24 — The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that the conflict in West Asia is driving up costs and causing delays in the global humanitarian supply chain.
Xinhua reported it as saying that sea freight costs have increased by about 70 per cent, with spikes of up to 300 per cent on some routes due to disruptions and congestion.
In a statement, it said that cross-border land transport costs have risen by 20 to 30 per cent amid delays, driver shortages and tightening capacity, while air freight has increased by around 50 to 70 per cent due to limited capacity and volatile fuel surcharges.
The IFRC added that while its global supply chain hub in Dubai remains operational, it has had to rely more on longer, more expensive overland routes to transport humanitarian goods.
It warned that at a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking, these changes will directly affect the world's most vulnerable populations.
