The United Nations World Food Program announced the halt of food distribution in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, stating that it would not resume distribution until it could ensure that aid reaches the targeted beneficiaries. This was attributed to reports of aid diversion. In a statement on Wednesday, the World Food Program emphasized to its partner organizations the need to monitor any illegal activities and report them.
Meanwhile, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power, confirmed a temporary suspension of food aid to the Tigray region, describing the decision as a "difficult choice." She noted that the agency recently discovered that food aid intended for the region's population, who are suffering from near-famine conditions, was being diverted and sold in the local market. Power pointed out that the agency referred the matter to its Inspector General's office, which opened an investigation and sent officials from the agency's humanitarian office to Ethiopia before making the decision to temporarily halt food assistance.
Power mentioned that "the U.S. government expressed its concerns to officials from the Ethiopian federal government and the interim regional administration in Tigray, who confirmed their willingness to work with the United States to identify and hold accountable those responsible." She affirmed that the agency is prepared to resume the program once robust oversight measures are enacted, ensuring that aid will reach the vulnerable targeted population.
