IRC welcomes reopening of Strait of Hormuz; warns impact of disruptions will not be quickly reversed

New York, NY, April 17, 2026 - Kelly Razzouk, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, said,

"The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, alongside ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon, is a welcome step that must now serve as a pathway toward a sustained and permanent cessation of hostilities for the sake of civilians across the region and across the world. The disruption to one of the world's most critical trade and aid corridors has had far-reaching consequences, constraining both commercial flows and the delivery of lifesaving assistance across the world.

"However, the effects of this disruption will not be quickly reversed, even with the Strait now reopened. Weeks of airspace and shipping route closures have already created significant backlogs that are likely to take weeks, if not months, to clear. Ongoing uncertainty and the risk of renewed constraints on the free flow of goods mean the situation remains fragile. For humanitarian organizations like IRC, this will continue to hamper operations as we are forced to rebudget in response to rising transport and procurement costs, reroute supply chains, and absorb delays that slow the delivery of essential aid to those who need it most."