Nearly 500 tonnes of high-energy biscuits, meant for 27,000 malnourished children in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be incinerated after expiring in a Dubai warehouse.
The food was part of USAID’s emergency nutrition program, designed for crisis zones lacking cooking facilities.
Why It’s Being Destroyed:
The destruction follows the July 1 shutdown of USAID, ordered by President Donald Trump.
Officials say the food expired due to logistical delays caused by the agency’s closure.
Michael Rigas, Deputy Secretary of State, called it a “casualty of the shutdown.”
Cost & Fallout:
The biscuits were worth $793,000 before expiry.
Disposal will cost the U.S. government an additional $100,000.
Aid officials managed to redirect 622 tonnes to Syria, Bangladesh, and Myanmar in June—but the rest couldn’t be saved.
Political Reactions:
Senator Tim Kaine criticized the decision: “Who decides to keep the warehouse locked, let the food expire, and then burn it?”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously promised no food aid would be wasted.
Global Context:
The UN reports 319 million people face food insecurity, with 1.9 million on the brink of famine, especially in Gaza and Sudan.
The U.S. remains the largest humanitarian donor, contributing $61 billion in foreign aid last year—half via USAID.
(source reuters)
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