The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has temporarily paused its food aid to Ethiopia following reports of food being diverted and sold on the local market. As almost all of Tigray’s six million people are reliant on aid due to years of civil war and government restrictions on humanitarian relief, the reported theft of food aid has raised concerns over the dire conditions of those living in the region. USAID has expressed concerns to both Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigray authorities, as well as launching an investigation into the matter.
According to Samantha Power, the Administrator for USAID, the theft reflects a “systemic failure” by the agency. The investigation into the case has shown that the food theft appeared to involve the collusion of parties on both sides of the conflict. USAID’s disaster response team was unable to oversee aid distribution between November and February, and the theft took place during that time.
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has also suspended its relief efforts in Tigray due to concerns over food theft. WFP serves 12 million people in Ethiopia, and the diversion of food in Tigray has been a significant issue. The WFP has stated that diversion is also affecting other areas of Ethiopia, and has reported 49 cases of diversion in 2021.
The interim president of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Getachew Reda, has established an investigation team to look into claims of food aid being diverted or sold on the black market. Reda has taken action following widespread complaints and an investigation by the UN World Food Programme that prompted complaints about the diversion of food and aid in Tigray.
The allegations of food theft come after two years of civil war between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths and created famine-like conditions that have affected millions of people. Reports emerged that IDPs in the Tigray region, including those housed in Mekelle, had not received sufficient aid to sustain themselves. The reports of food theft and diversion have raised concerns about aid delivery and distribution in the region, particularly given the extent to which the people of Tigray rely on relief efforts.
