USAID Administrator Samantha Power described the decision as "difficult" because the agency had recently uncovered that food aid meant for individuals in famine-like conditions in the region was being diverted and sold on the local market. She stated that USAID "stands ready" to relaunch the programme if adequate control procedures are in place and the agency is confident that funding would reach the intended disadvantaged groups. The government and Tigrayan forces agreed to cease the fighting in November, allowing more supplies to reach the region and some services to be restored. Power stated that the pause has added to the suffering of Ethiopian civilians and reaffirmed the US commitment to the Ethiopian people. "While food aid to the Tigray Region has been paused, other vital assistance that is not implicated in the diversion scheme will continue, including life-saving nutritional supplements, safe drinking water, and support for agricultural activities and development," she said.

Source: Ethiopian News May 05, 2023 07:40 UTC