GENEVA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Monday that the conflict in the Middle East is driving up costs and causing delays in the global humanitarian supply chain.

In a statement, the IFRC said sea freight costs have increased by about 70 percent, with spikes of up to 300 percent on some routes due to disruptions and congestion.

Cross-border land transport costs have risen by 20 to 30 percent amid delays, driver shortages and tightening capacity, while air freight has increased by around 50 to 70 percent due to limited capacity and volatile fuel surcharges, the statement said.

The organization added that while its global supply chain hub in Dubai remains operational, it has been forced to rely more on longer and more expensive overland routes to transport humanitarian goods.

It warned that at a time when humanitarian budgets are shrinking, these changes will directly affect the world's most vulnerable populations. ■