Over 500,000 tonnes of food could spoil due to suspension of US aid
More than 500,000 tonnes of food supplied through USAID’s food programme could spoil as a result of the suspension of the US overseas aid, RIA Novosti reports
“USAID staff have identified more than 500,000 metric tonnes of food that is currently at sea or ready to be shipped... Food is being supplied... with financing from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Since this source of funding was not specified in the document of the Secretary of State [Marco Rubio] about the refusal of emergency food aid, these goods were held in limbo, subjecting them to spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and potential diversion,” the report of the Office of Inspector General for USAID reads.
Earlier, Western media reported that supplies and purchases during some US support programmes were halted following US President Donald Trump’s January 20th decree to suspend foreign aid for 90 days. However, it is noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made several exceptions on January 24th, including for food supplies.
