The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which about 20% of global oil passes, has sent shockwaves across Asia, disrupting everyday life in countries that rely heavily on energy imports. The conflict between the US. Israel, and Iran, which began in late February, has led to a sharp decline in the number of ships passing through the strait, with only a handful making it through each day. This has driven oil prices to unmatched levels and triggered a cascade of measures across the region to conserve fuel.

Impact on Daily Life in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the government declared a national emergency in response to the conflict, citing the imminent danger to the country’s energy supply. The impact of the war, more than 7,000 kilometers away, is being felt acutely by jeepney drivers, who have seen their daily wages plummet. Carlos Bragal Jr., a jeepney driver, reported his earnings dropping from 1,000 to 1,200 pesos ($16.60 to $19.92) for a 12-hour shift to just 200 to 500 pesos. The rising fuel costs have forced some of his colleagues to earn nothing at all.

Carlos, who has been supporting his daughters’ education, said, “We had a good life. But now, we do not know what will happen to us in the next few weeks. If this continues, it will definitely kill us and our family.” Fishermen and farmers are also struggling with high fuel costs, with some vegetable farmers in Bulacan forced to stop planting due to the financial strain.

The government has stepped in with cash assistance, but Carlos and others argue it is insufficient. “The fuel subsidy from the government isn’t enough. It’s for a two-day drive. So what happens after two days? Our situation now is worse than during the pandemic,” he said.

Energy Conservation Measures in Thailand

In Thailand, news presenter Sirima Songklin and her colleagues at public broadcaster Thai PBS took a symbolic step to promote energy conservation by removing their blazers on air. “Taking off the suit isn’t the whole solution for energy conservation, but what we did is to show that we’re not ignoring what’s happening,” Sirima told BBC Thai. “It’s unbelievable that something so small could reflect the clear impact of the current conflict [in the Middle East] on us.”

The government has implemented a range of measures, including asking citizens to keep air conditioning at 26-27°C and encouraging remote work. Authorities have also assured the public that Thailand will have enough energy going forward, but the reality on the ground is more complex.

Fuel Rationing in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the irony of the current crisis is not lost on Dimuthu, who lives in the capital, Colombo. “During the previous time, the country did not have money to buy fuel. Now, the country has money, but there is no fuel for us to buy.” Sri Lanka has just emerged from a financial crisis that saw it run out of foreign reserves in 2022, and now it is back on a more even keel. However, it has implemented belt-tightening measures, including declaring Wednesdays a public holiday and introducing fuel rationing.

Long queues at fuel stations are causing ripple effects, with people like Nimal, a lawnmower operator, struggling to balance work and fuel needs. “I didn’t go to work today. We are fulfilling our daily needs with great difficulty. Because of [the queues]… I don’t even have time to attend to work,” he said. “By the time I get back to work after getting fuel, someone else may be there as a replacement for the job.”

Fuel Rationing in Myanmar

In Myanmar, which has been engulfed in civil war since May 2021, the military-backed authorities have introduced an alternate day policy for private vehicles to conserve fuel. For Ko Htet, a bank employee, the impact is more on his social life than his work. “I usually meet with my friends weekly and monthly. Right now, we need to discuss whether we meet on even or odd days, making sure everyone is okay to come,” he said.

Ko Htet also fears the emergence of a black market for fuel, which could further exacerbate the crisis. “There is a risk of a new black market for fuel emerging over the coming months, adding to worries about the rising prices of commodities,” he said.

Impact on India’s Economy

India, the world’s most populous country, has been deeply affected by the conflict in the Middle East. The 10 million-strong Indian community in the Gulf is dealing with the direct fallout of the war, but at home, the effects of oil and gas shortages are being felt across both homes and businesses. In the western state of Gujarat, a shortage of gas rather than oil has led to the closure of the ceramics industry for nearly a month, leaving 400,000 people employed in the trade in limbo.

Sachin Parashar, a migrant worker, said, “I will have to go hungry if I continue staying here without work.” Others, like Bhumi Kumar, a factory worker, face uncertainty. “My employer has offered food and shelter, but I do not know what will happen if the shutdown continues indefinitely,” he said.

India imports about 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with about 90% of those shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The impact is not limited to factories; in Mumbai, a city of more than 22 million people, as many as a fifth of all hotels and restaurants have fully or partially shut down in the first weeks of March. Items that take longer to cook are absent from menus, and long queues have formed across the nation as people try to get their hands on gas cylinders.

Manpreet Singh, of the National Restaurant Association of India, said, “The situation [in restaurants] is dire. Cooking gas simply isn’t available.” The government is trying to calm fears of a shortage, but the reality on the ground is stark.

With no end in sight to the Iran conflict, the crisis is expected to persist, with further implications for energy security and economic stability in Asia. Governments across the region are likely to continue implementing stringent measures to conserve fuel, and the impact on everyday life is likely to be felt for months to come.