NEW YORK: The ongoing war with Iran has cost Arab countries an estimated $186 billion in economic losses within a single month, a top United Nations official has revealed, warning that continued hostilities threaten to push millions deeper into poverty and destabilize the global economy.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdullah Dardari disclosed the staggering figure while briefing on the economic fallout of the conflict, citing preliminary assessments of the war’s impact on the Arab region. According to a foreign news agency, Dardari emphasized that every day the ceasefire is delayed inflicts compounding damage not only on the region but also on the global economic landscape.
The conflict is projected to reduce the Arab region’s gross domestic product (GDP) by approximately 6 percent, Dardari stated. He noted that countries in the Eastern Mediterranean are also facing severe economic strain, with potential losses in that subregion estimated at up to $30 billion.
The UN official painted a grim picture of the conflict’s human and social toll, warning that as many as 3.7 million jobs could be lost across Arab countries as a direct result of the war. Additionally, he revealed that over the past month alone, an estimated 4 million more people have fallen below the poverty line or are now at risk of doing so.
“The numbers we are seeing are unprecedented in their speed and scale,” Dardari said, urging the international community to take immediate steps to secure a ceasefire. He stressed that swift action was essential to prevent further human suffering and economic devastation and to restore stability in the region.
The UN Assistant Secretary-General’s appeal comes amid escalating tensions and growing international concern over the widening conflict. His remarks underscored the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to halt the economic freefall and avert a deeper humanitarian crisis across the Arab world.
