Roundup: UN calls for aid to victims in Lebanon, safe passage of humanitarian cargo through Strait of Hormuz

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (C) receives visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, March 13, 2026.

Senior UN officials on Friday appealed for aid to victims of Israeli bombings in Lebanon and the safe passage of humanitarian cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.

During a surprise visit to show solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a three-month appeal of 308.3 million U.S. dollars for victims of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Senior UN officials on Friday appealed for aid to victims of Israeli bombings in Lebanon and the safe passage of humanitarian cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.

During a surprise visit to show solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a three-month appeal of 308.3 million U.S. dollars for victims of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

The spokesman said the appeal targets up to 1 million people, including affected vulnerable Lebanese, displaced Syrians, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Palestinian refugees from Syria, and migrants.

The secretary-general, who appealed to both parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and stop the enormous suffering of civilians in the region, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the spokesman said.

Separately, Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, issued an urgent call for the unhindered and safe passage of humanitarian cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. He warned that any disruption would drive up the price of food, medicine and other life-saving supplies, hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest.

Earlier this week, the intergovernmental organization UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) called the Strait of Hormuz a "vital passage for global trade." It said ship transits through the passage came to a near halt.

UNCTAD said fuel costs are surging, driving up shipping costs across supply chains.

Fletcher said that without reliable humanitarian supply routes, millions of people risk losing access to life-saving assistance. Food, medicine and other critical supplies destined for operations in places such as East and sub-Saharan Africa could become harder to move and more expensive to deliver at a time when famine already threatens countries like Somalia.

Dujarric, during a regular briefing, said the closure of the strait also has "the potential for a huge spike in the price of fertilizer, which is often overlooked as we focus on oil."

OCHA said that, in the last 24 hours, all but one of the requested humanitarian movements through the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing were denied.

"As a result, the United Nations has been able to collect fuel, but no other supplies," OCHA said.

The crossing is the only operational crossing point into Gaza, as the Rafah and Zikim crossings have been shut since the start of the strikes on Iran.

OCHA said the World Health Organization reported that items they have offloaded at the crossing but have not been allowed to collect include nearly 50 intensive care unit beds and 170 pallets of medicines. ■

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (R) meets with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, March 13, 2026.

Senior UN officials on Friday appealed for aid to victims of Israeli bombings in Lebanon and the safe passage of humanitarian cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.

During a surprise visit to show solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a three-month appeal of 308.3 million U.S. dollars for victims of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (R) shakes hands with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, March 13, 2026.

Senior UN officials on Friday appealed for aid to victims of Israeli bombings in Lebanon and the safe passage of humanitarian cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.

During a surprise visit to show solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a three-month appeal of 308.3 million U.S. dollars for victims of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)