“Following this review, USAID determined, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and our implementing partners, that a temporary pause in food aid was the best course of action,” Power said in a statement. Power told the Senate committee that the theft reflected a “systemic failure” by her agency and that much of aid involved was retrieved. The theft appeared to have taken place between November and February, after the fighting in Tigray eased, Power said. The U.N.'s World Food Program in Ethiopia told its partners on April 20 that it had suspended deliveries to Tigray. The World Food Program said its relief efforts in Tigray “will not resume until WFP can ensure that vital aid will reach its intended recipients."

Source: Ethiopian News May 04, 2023 09:16 UTC