Washington
Cnn
–
A merchant ship full of wheat had Oregon sail at the beginning of the month, heading towards the port of Aden in Yemen.
But when this carrier finally reaches its destination planned in mid-May, no one will be allowed to receive wheat, store it and ensure that it is distributed to residents of southern Yemen, which many of which desperately need food. Unless one intervention by the Trump administration, wheat will probably rot at the port or will be looted.
The uncertain fate of this particular wheat carrier – which has been described in CNN by two familiar sources with the situation that has refused to speak – is the direct result of the astonishing decimation of the American agency for international development during the second term of President Donald Trump. The agency has canceled humanitarian aid contracts saving from life with the United Nations Global Program, including those of Yemen and Afghanistan.
Unless these contracts are restored, the WFP has no authority – not to mention funding – to do anything with the wheat that should arrive in Yemen next month, these sources said.
Cnn previously reported That while USAID had reversed the course and restored funding for PAM programs, including those of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Ecuador and Somalia, contracts for Afghanistan and Yemen AID have remained reduced.
CNN contacted the State Department to comment.
Drastic cuts in USAID and its funding In recent months, have wreaked havoc on the World Humanitarian Aid ecosystem, dozens of companies and organizations causing or receiving their contracts or receiving delayed or partial payments.
Even for groups that still have active contracts from USAID, their future remains deeply uncertain. Although the senior officials of the Trump administration initially declared that the humanitarian rescue programs would not be on the Cup block, the decision earlier this month to end the financing of the USAID for emergency food aid has amazed the humanitarian workers.
At the time, WFP declared in a statement that he was “deeply concerned” by the dismissed financing notifications.
“If this is implemented, this could constitute a death sentence for millions of people faced with hunger and extreme famine. We are in contact with the US administration to request clarification and demand continuous support for these safeguard programs,” the statement said. “WFP is grateful to the contributions it receives from the United States and all its donors.”
WFP estimates that around half – 17 million people – of the population of Yemen are not in food security. The Yemeni people were devastated by a year’s civil war that began with the Houthi rebels who storm the capital of the country of Sanaa and dismantled the country’s internationally recognized government in 2014.
Last week, the spokesman for the State Department, Tammy Bruce, said that the administration’s decision to dismiss Yemen prices was partly “due to the concern of the financing of terrorist groups”, including the Houthis.
“These concerns concerning the funding of the United Nations have been documented and discussed for years, which is why USAID has interrupted all food aid in northern Yemen by WFP, in particular to mitigate any interference of the Houthis,” said Bruce.
Jennifer Hansler of CNN contributed to this report.