UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has established a task force to develop and propose technical mechanisms specifically designed to meet humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesperson said Friday.

"As the conflict in the Middle East unfolds and threatens to intensify, disruptions in maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz risk creating ripple effects impacting humanitarian needs and agricultural production in the coming months," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

"While the Secretary-General is committed to making every effort to achieve a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict, immediate action is essential to mitigate these consequences," he said.

The new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz aims to facilitate fertilizer trade, including the movement of related raw materials, and its operationalization will be done in close consultation with relevant UN member states with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks, Dujarric said.

"If successful, it would also create confidence among Member States on the diplomatic approach to the conflict and constitute a valuable step towards a wider political settlement," he said.

According to the spokesperson, the task force is led by UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, and will include representatives from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Chamber of Commerce. Additional entities may be invited to participate as needed.

As part of his broader peacemaking mandate, the secretary-general's personal envoy, Jean Arnault, will lead political engagement with relevant UN member states, supported by the task force, Dujarric added. ■