The Iran war is disrupting fuel and shipping, choking life-saving operations and pushing up hunger and poverty across Africa, the International Rescue Committee has warned. The aid group said the ripple effects of the conflict are beginning to strain already fragile humanitarian systems in several countries.
In a statement released on Monday, the organisation said rising fuel prices, shipping delays and supply chain disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are affecting essential services in crisis-hit regions. The IRC described the situation as an escalating humanitarian threat, particularly as global aid funding has already declined sharply in the past year.
Fuel shortages are emerging as a critical challenge, as supplies become more expensive and difficult to secure. Fuel is essential for powering hospitals, ambulances and logistics networks that support aid delivery. Bob Kitchen, the IRC’s vice president for emergencies, said the effects are spreading rapidly. “Fuel shortages and supply delays don’t stay contained, they ripple outward, shutting down services, driving up food prices, and cutting off access to care,” he said.
The impact is being felt across multiple countries. In Nigeria, fuel prices have risen by nearly 50%, increasing the cost of running generators in clinics and forcing mobile health teams to scale back operations. In Sudan, pharmaceutical supplies worth $130,000 remain stranded in Dubai due to shipping disruptions, delaying assistance for around 20,000 people in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
In Somalia, shipments of therapeutic food used to treat severe child malnutrition are stuck in India, putting more than 1,000 children at risk. Meanwhile, in Kenya, fuel rationing has disrupted operations in refugee camps such as Kakuma Refugee Camp and Dadaab Refugee Complex, affecting medical services, water systems and emergency transport.
Similar pressures are being reported in Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rising costs and limited fuel supplies are restricting aid movements. The IRC said shipping routes have been forced to divert around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times and increasing expenses.
The crisis is also affecting households. Higher fuel costs are pushing up food prices and basic goods, while rising fertiliser costs threaten future harvests. For communities already dealing with conflict, displacement and climate shocks, this is worsening food insecurity and limiting coping options.
The organisation noted that similar patterns have been seen in past conflicts, where disruptions in one region trigger global economic effects. With humanitarian funding estimated to have fallen by more than 60% last year, aid agencies have limited capacity to absorb additional pressure.
The IRC has called for urgent action, including increased financial support and adherence to international humanitarian law, warning that without intervention, access to healthcare could decline further while hunger and poverty deepen across vulnerable regions.
