The last five rainy seasons since the end of 2020 have failed, triggering the worst drought in four decades in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The Ethiopian government's spokesman Legesse Tulu told journalists the decision by USAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) "punishes millions". The WFP followed suit on Friday, saying it was temporarily halting only some food aid assistance. Ethiopia's government on Friday said in a joint statement with USAID that it was committed to addressing the "deeply concerning revelations of food aid diversion". Due to conflict and drought, around 20 million people in Ethiopia depend on food aid, the UN's humanitarian agency (OCHA) said in May.

Source: Ethiopian News June 12, 2023 22:40 UTC