23 March 2026 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warns that one of the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East is its impact on the humanitarian supply chain.

While the IFRC global supply chain hub in Dubai remains operational, disruptions to global transport have led to significant price increases and forced the organization to use longer overland routes.

The direct impact is that moving goods is becoming more expensive and is taking more time. At a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking, this will directly affect the most vulnerable communities around the world.

Costs are changing daily, but the following examples illustrate current trends:

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Sea freight: approximately +70%, with spikes of up to 300% on specific routes
Cause: Schedule disruptions, rerouting, and congestion. Reduced UAE sailings are also forcing road repositioning to ports such as Jeddah (approximately $5,000 per container).

Land transport (international/cross-border): +20% to +30%
Cause: A general increase in cross-border trucking costs across GCC corridors, driven primarily by border delays, driver shortages, and tightening capacity, with fuel price volatility as a contributing factor.

Air freight: approximately +50% to 70% (depending on the route)
Cause: Modal shift from sea to air, limited capacity, and volatile fuel surcharges.

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