Hyderabad, July 19 -- The United States will destroy close to 500 metric tons of emergency food assistance, out of a total of 60,000 tons stuck in warehouses around the globe. The action is in contrast to a severe increase in global hunger, with an estimated 343 million people suffering acute food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme.

The commodities, including high-energy fortified wheat biscuits that were meant for malnourished children in Pakistan and Afghanistan, are near expiry. Previously worth approximately USD 800,000, the biscuits were in a USAID warehouse in Dubai. About 496 tons of them are currently ruined and will be destroyed by burning at a cost of USD 130,000.

This comes after USAID was dismantled earlier th...