The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced on Friday that it will temporarily halt food aid in Ethiopia due to widespread theft of donations, a day after the United States announced a similar move.
Neither the WFP nor the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided details about the irregularities in aid delivery that resulted in it not reaching those in need and led to the decision. However, a group of foreign donors stated in an internal briefing that the U.S. agency believes the aid provided is reaching units of the Ethiopian military.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain noted in a statement, "Our primary concern is the millions of hungry people who rely on our support, and our teams will work tirelessly with all partners to resume operations as quickly as possible."
McCain welcomed the Ethiopian government's commitment to conduct an investigation and hold those responsible accountable, reflecting similar statements made by U.S. officials on Thursday.
The program confirmed it will continue to provide food aid to children, pregnant and nursing mothers, school meals, and initiatives to bolster farmers and herders' resilience to the challenges they face.
More than 20 million people in Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, require food assistance due to the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in decades and a two-year conflict in the north that left tens of thousands dead before ending with a ceasefire last year.
