By Enyichukwu Enemanna
World Food Programme (WFP), an agency working with the United Nations World, on Friday said it will temporarily stop its food humanitarian intervention in Ethiopia over allegations diversion and theft of donations.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the United States announced it was also withdrawing its food aid over same reason.
At least 20 million persons are facing food crisis, arising from the drought in the Horn of Africa that has lasted for decades, as well as the conflict in Tigray, the northern region of the country that has lasted for two years, leaving tens of thousands dead before a truce was reached last year.
Neither WFP nor the U.S. Agency for International Development provided details about the diversions of aid that led to their decisions.
Internal sources who briefed foreign donors however allege that USAID believes food has been diverted to Ethiopian military units.
Spokespeople for Ethiopia’s government, military and foreign affairs ministry have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
“Our first concern is the millions of hungry people who depend on our support, and our teams will work tirelessly with all partners to resume our operations as soon as we can,” WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a statement.
McCain said she welcomed the Ethiopian government’s commitment to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, echoing comments made by U.S. officials on Thursday.
WFP said nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals programs, and activities for building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists would continue uninterrupted.
