Kathmandu. The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday warned that the war in the Middle East posed a serious threat to global food security, urging them to keep global supply chains open.

High energy costs due to the Middle East conflict reduce supplies, increase the cost of chemical fertilizers and ultimately jeopardize global food security,” Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters in Geneva.

“Prolonged supply disruptions can ripple through the food system, prompting farmers to reduce fertilizer use and plant intensive crops with lower yields,” he said.

“There is a need to open up global food trade routes and make supply predictable, which allows food supplies to flow to where they are needed most.