Yemen's government opposes new shipping surcharges, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions as international carriers impose 'war risk' fees.
Yemen's government has rejected new surcharges on shipping bound for its ports, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions as international carriers impose 'war risk' fees, reports Aljazeera.
Traders and officials stated that shipping companies informed importers of fees of about US$3,000 per container earlier this month. These charges, linked to the United States and Israel's conflict with Iran, have raised fears of higher costs for food, fuel, and other essential goods in a country that imports nearly 90 percent of its supplies.
Economists and aid groups have warned that the surcharges could quickly translate into price rises, deepening Yemen's humanitarian crisis. The country already faces widespread poverty and food insecurity after years of war.
Yemen's transport minister, Mohsen al-Amri, stated that he instructed that the fees not be paid by ships docked at or bound for Yemeni ports. He argued that the ports are far from the tensions in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, describing the charges as unjustified from both operational and security perspectives.
