The United States has lifted a suspension on food donations, allowing the United Nations World Food Programme to resume critical food deliveries to countries in need.
The WFP confirmed this development on Sunday in a post on X, stating, “We can confirm that the recent pause concerning in-kind food assistance to WFP – purchased from U.S. farmers with Title II funds – has been rescinded.
This allows for the resumption of food purchases and deliveries under existing USAID agreements.”
The suspension had disrupted the delivery of 500,000 metric tons of food, either at sea or waiting to be shipped. It was part of a 90-day freeze on foreign aid ordered by US President Donald Trump to review if aid programs aligned with his “America First” policy.
Although emergency food assistance had a waiver, the US still instructed the WFP to stop work on several US-funded grants, including those under the Food for Peace Title II program. This program, which provides about $2 billion annually for food aid, is run by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The aid freeze affected food deliveries to countries facing severe crises, such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Haiti, and Mali.
USAID’s Office of Inspector General raised concerns in a report released on Monday, warning that the suspension put over $489 million worth of food aid at risk of spoilage, storage issues, and potential diversion.
The report stated, “Because this funding source was not included under the Secretary’s emergency food assistance waiver, these commodities were held in limbo, subjecting them to spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and potential diversion.”
Humanitarian organizations were left confused during the pause, unsure whether to proceed with shipments at their own financial risk.
While the resumption of food aid has been welcomed, the temporary halt has highlighted worries about the unpredictability of US foreign aid decisions and their effects on global humanitarian efforts.
