The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) told AFP on Tuesday that since the end of July it has been "testing" the resumption of food aid distribution in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, which it suspended in May for misappropriation. The WFP, along with the US government's international aid agency USAID, suspended food aid to the war-torn northern region of Tigray in early May, before extending the decision to the whole of Ethiopia the following month, due to "widespread and coordinated" detour. The WFP also announced that it had resumed registration of food aid beneficiaries and introduced "bag marking to enable precise tracking of foodstuffs". In a response to AFP, USAID said on Tuesday that "U.S. food aid to Ethiopia remains suspended", while assuring that it was working "in close collaboration with the WFP". Many Tigrayans have been forced to skip meals due to the suspension of food aid, others to prostitute themselves in order to obtain food, Ocha estimated on Friday.

Source: Ethiopian News August 09, 2023 09:50 UTC