The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the suspension of all its food aid to Ethiopia.
The pause comes after USAID halted its food assistance to the Tigray last May following its discovery of a widespread diversion scheme.
USAID Suspends All Food Aid to Ethiopia
According to CNN, the humanitarian agency has decided to temporarily halt sending food assistance to Ethiopia in the wake of mounting concerns over the diversion of the aid. The decision was made in response to widespread allegations of aid diversion and misuse.
Ethiopia is home to roughly 20 million people grappling with widespread hunger. And as such, these folks desperately rely on food support, such as aid from USAID.
However, the USAID spokesperson confirmed in a statement on Thursday, June 8, that they "cannot move forward with distribution of food assistance" in the entire country. The US Agency further notes they came up with the decision "in coordination with the Government of Ethiopia" and "after a country-wide review."
Al Jazeera reports that the humanitarian group plans to resume food aid to the country as soon as possible. Although they want to restart the assistance, they want to ensure proper distribution. USAID notes they want to be "confident in the integrity of delivery systems."
In early May, the USAID and the World Food Programme suspended their food aid in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, citing alleged diversion of assistance, wherein it is reportedly sold in the local markets.
Diversion Scheme Investigation
As per the Voice of America, The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with the Deputy Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen on Thursday amid the Riyadh Saudi Arabia meeting. During the talk, the State Department announced that the US and the Ethiopian government are working hand in hand to conduct a full investigation of the diversion scheme.
Both countries have partnered "to conduct a full investigation into the diversion of U.S. food assistance and to hold accountable those found responsible," according to the State Department.
The USAID accused officials from the Ethiopian government of stealing the food aid. And instead of distributing them to those in need, the agency says the assistance was fed to ex-combatants and soldiers. On top of that, the allegations also shed light on schemes wherein government officials are allegedly selling flour in the open market.
According to a document seen by The Washington Post, the food aid diversion appears to be a "coordinated and criminal scheme, which has prevented life-saving assistance from reaching the most vulnerable."
