A World Food Programme official told the Washington Examiner that the stored food was intended for pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as children, when approximately 25% of Somalia’s populationabout 4.4 million peopleis experiencing critical food insecurity.

Washington has terminated all aid programs to Somalia, significantly increasing pressure on the Mogadishu government concerning alleged corruption in humanitarian assistance distribution.

According to a Wednesday statement from the US State Department, the action came after reports indicated Somali officials were involved in demolishing a warehouse funded by the United States and managed by the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as illegally confiscating 76 metric tons of food intended for vulnerable civilians.

A World Food Programme representative informed the Washington Examiner that the warehouse’s contents were designated for pregnant and lactating women along with children, despite nearly a quarter of Somalia’s 4.4 million population facing severe hunger.

The State Department deemed the allegations intolerable, stating they violated humanitarian principles and redirected life-saving resources away from those in immediate need.

The department announced, ‘We have suspended all current US assistance programs benefiting the Somali Federal Government. The Trump Administration maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward waste, theft, and misappropriation of life-saving assistance.’

The State Department indicated that aid restoration would require specific actions from Somali authorities, including accountability for the incident and corrective measures to resolve the violations.

The State Department emphasized that ‘resumption of assistance will hinge on the Somali Federal Government acknowledging its unacceptable conduct and implementing corrective measures.’

This action coincides with increasing US scrutiny of Somali migrants and refugees, with stricter entry requirements and heightened difficulties for those already residing in America. Recent controversies, including fraud allegations connected to childcare centers in Minnesota, have intensified pressure on the Somali population in the United States.

The decision also came after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Wednesday, directing the nation’s withdrawal from multiple international organizations, including 31 United Nations (UN) bodies and 35 non-affiliated organizations.

The White House asserted that numerous of these institutions advance extreme climate policies, global governance structures, and ideological agendas that contradict American sovereignty and economic interests.

The White House stated, ‘American taxpayers have invested billions in these organizations with minimal returns, as they frequently criticize US policies, promote agendas opposed to our values, or misuse taxpayer funds by claiming to address critical issues without delivering tangible outcomes.’

The White House concluded, ‘Through withdrawing from these entities, President Trump is conserving taxpayer resources and redirecting attention toward America First priorities.’