Official Document: World Food Program Distributed Damaged Relief Supplies to Marib Displaced Persons

An official memo issued by the Industry and Commerce Office in Marib Governorate has uncovered a new scandal involving the World Food Program (WFP) in Yemen, revealing that damaged relief supplies—including moldy flour and rice—were distributed to hundreds of displaced families in the governorate’s camps.

The memo, dated August 6, 2025, and addressed to the Executive Unit for Displaced Persons Camp Management, stated that the program had distributed large quantities of spoiled flour exceeding 1,000 bags before inspection teams intervened and seized the remaining shipment.

The document confirmed that this incident was not the first of its kind, warning against the continued distribution of supplies without ensuring their fitness for human consumption.

The memo emphasized the need to adhere to approved protocols, which stipulate that no food items should be distributed before verifying their safety, while also demanding compensation for affected individuals.

Additionally, the attached inspection reports revealed irregularities in the suitability of warehouses designated for storing relief supplies, raising concerns about the quality of future shipments.

Activist Abdulqader Al-Kharraz, who published the document on his Facebook page, questioned the measures the Executive Unit would take regarding this scandal. He also inquired about the authorities’ readiness to hold the UN program and those responsible accountable—whether through legal action or merely replacing the damaged supplies—and the role of the Etlaf Al-Khair Foundation, WFP’s local partner, in storage and distribution operations.

Meanwhile, activists on social media circulated videos documenting the damaged condition of the distributed supplies, further intensifying criticism of the UN program.

For their part, human rights advocates and observers argued that failing to hold those involved accountable for distributing spoiled food equates to complicity in what they described as "ongoing humanitarian crimes" against displaced persons. They called for a transparent investigation and guarantees that such violations—which threaten the health and lives of citizens—would not be repeated.