The Trump administration has opted to burn almost 500 metric tons of emergency food in Dubai, which was originally set for starving kids in war-torn areas. The worth of the food is $800 million, and it could have been sufficient for an estimated 1.5 million children for a week. It has been untouched since Donald Trump suspended USAID’s foreign operations.
The destruction of the food will also cost American taxpayers an extra $130,000, fueling widespread indignation. The move, according to critics, not only wastes resources but leaves the vulnerable behind, particularly in places such as Gaza, where the need continues to be acute.
High-Energy Food Left to Rot
The emergency food assistance contains high-nutrient biscuits meant for areas where there is no clean water or the ability to cook. They were initially meant for children in Africa and the Middle East. A retired USAID official disclosed that the food has been spoiled in a Dubai warehouse for months because of Trump’s closure of foreign aid delivery pipelines.
The rations, the official said, are ideal for places such as Gaza, where cooking fuel and clean water are in short supply. “Two rations a day can keep a person alive,” the official said, lamenting the devastation.
$130K More to Burn It
Even after already shelling out $800 million on the food, the Trump administration now intends to spend an additional $130,000 to burn it. Reports say that this will start imminently and entail destruction by fire. Democratic Representative Adam Smith criticized the move as “waste and government abuse.”
High-energy biscuits, sufficient for 1.5 million children, will be incinerated in the next few weeks at a cost of $130,000,” said Smith. “This is the very epitome of government overreach.”
Officials Blame Expiry, Critics Slam Mismanagement
The State Department confirmed the destruction in a statement. They alleged that the food cannot be utilized before it goes bad. The spokesperson also mentioned that USAID has destroyed supplies in previous administrations in such situations.
But critics counter that under the old system, USAID officials would have monitored expiration dates and redirected food to needy areas before it spoiled. The sudden shutdown has prevented that from happening, and tons of good food are going to waste.
Layoffs Add to the Crisis
Separately, in a similar development, the US State Department is to terminate 1,300 staff members this week. Officials blamed overspending and presumed fraudulent activities as reasons. But the timing has fueled fears that important humanitarian operations are being dismantled with no clear substitutes.
With global hunger increasing, several have questioned the reasons why lifesaving assistance is being set ablaze rather than being delivered. Critics argue that this action is evidence of a larger failure of compassion within U.S. foreign policy during Trump.
