• U.S. food aid totaling 66,000 metric tonnes is stuck in warehouses, risking expiry due to funding cuts.
• The food could support 3.5 million people for a month but is likely to be destroyed.
• Global hunger is rising, with 343 million facing acute food insecurity, exacerbated by cuts to USAID.
• The State Department is processing available stocks for future distribution amid deteriorating conditions.
• USAID plans to lay off most staff as it decommissions, complicating food distribution efforts.

Food rations capable of sustaining 3.5 million people for a month are currently decomposing in warehouses around the world due to cuts in U.S. aid, risking their usability. These stocks, trapped in four U.S. government warehouses since January's aid reductions by the Trump administration, include approximately 60,000 to 66,000 metric tonnes of food sourced from American farmers and manufacturers, as indicated by sources from various humanitarian organizations and USAID insiders, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and HuffPost.

The food stocks, valued at over $98 million, consist of high-energy biscuits, vegetable oil, and fortified grains, which could potentially sustain the entire population of Gaza for a month and a half. However, many of these stocks are due to expire shortly, with an alarming risk of incineration or becoming animal feed due to logistical challenges in aid distribution following budget cuts, as reported by Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The wider implications of these cuts are reflected in rising global hunger levels. The World Food Programme indicates that 343 million people face acute food insecurity globally, with 1.9 million on the brink of famine, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Gaza and Sudan. This humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by the dismantling of USAID and reduced funding, which many experts fear could reverse decades of progress against hunger, according to Channel News Asia and HuffPost.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed efforts are being made to facilitate the transfer of aid funds and resources before the impending expiration of the supplies. Despite a proposal to distribute these stocks through humanitarian organizations being on hold, the continuing decommissioning of USAID raises critical questions about future food aid delivery and management, as acknowledged by South China Morning Post and Reuters.

With nearly 500 tonnes of critical high-energy biscuits set to expire soon, the risks are significant for vulnerable populations, particularly malnourished children. Reports indicate these biscuits could have supported 27,000 children for a month, a stark reminder of the human repercussions of bureaucratic delays. Various humanitarian directors express grave concerns regarding the health risks for children if they become unable to access essential treatment, reinforcing a pressing need for action, as seen with statements from organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, referenced by HuffPost and South China Morning Post.