\n
<\/p>\n
Highlighting the import-heavy status of many Caribbean islands, UN researchers warned on Wednesday that the war \u2013 and in particular the Strait of Hormuz shipping and energy crisis \u2013 have triggered one of the most significant global trade shocks since the COVID19 pandemic and Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p>\n
Low-income households will be worst-hit, according to\u00a0analysis partnered by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), after crude oil prices surged to more than $114 a barrel earlier this year, alongside increased shipping costs, insurance fees and delivery delays.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with a fragile ceasefire now in place, volatility remains high \u2013 and the Caribbean, heavily reliant on imported food, is feeling the squeeze fast<\/strong>,\u201d the report\u2019s authors maintain.<\/p>\n At the same time, experts warn there\u2019s a 61 per cent chance<\/strong> of the El Ni\u00f1o climate phenomenon striking by mid-2026; historically for the Caribbean region, El Ni\u00f1o has brought heatwaves, drought and crop failures to already struggling nations.<\/p>\n In Belize, authorities are preparing for drought, while farmers across the Caribbean region fear shrinking harvests as rainfall drops and temperatures climb.<\/p>\n For low-income families, the impact could be devastating, as food and transport make up a large chunk of spending. This means that even modest price increases will hit hard and force many to cut meals, or switch to cheaper, less nutritious food, or fall into debt.<\/p>\n Small farmers and fishers are also at risk, facing rising running costs alongside worsening weather conditions.<\/p>\n Experts say that the coming months will be critical. Without swift action to stabilise markets, support incomes and protect food production, the region could slide into a deeper crisis.<\/p>\n Even if global conditions improve, the damage may linger \u2014 leaving the Caribbean trapped in a cycle of rising prices, climate shocks and growing food insecurity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe crisis in brief:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Warning signs\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n