Ethiopia - Senior leadership of WFP in Ethiopia resigns amid food aid diversion probe and suspension of food aid
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| Claude Jbidar, WFP Ethiopia |
WFP has joined USAID in suspending food aid to Ethiopia, following an investigation into diversion of food supplies.
The senior leadership of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Ethiopia has resigned, shortly before the findings of a probe into the misappropriation of food aid in the country are due to be made public.
The resignations come after an internal investigation launched last month over reports that significant amounts of food meant for hungry people in Ethiopia’s war-affected northern Tigray region had been sold on the commercial market. The probe also indicated significant diversions elsewhere in the country.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, who took the helm of the UN agency in April, said last month that those “found responsible must be held accountable” for food theft.
Both the Ethiopian federal government and the interim regional government in Tigray have vowed to cooperate with WFP’s probe.
“We briefed [a US government] delegation on the progress in the investigation into allegations of aid diversion,” Getachew Reda, the head of the interim government in Tigray, tweeted today. “We have shared highlights of findings & reassured them that we will make the findings public & hold those responsible to account very soon.”
The initial findings of the internal probe suggest that food aid diversion goes beyond Tigray and includes the drought-affected Somali region, WFP insiders said. Again speaking on condition of anonymity, they said they were told at the 2 June meeting that more resignations, including Jibidar’s deputy, Jennifer Bitonde, are expected in the coming weeks as the Ethiopian country team is overhauled.
“There have always been delays in food deliveries, and diversions,” the aid worker said. “Clearly the system is broken.”
The Ethiopian foreign ministry has said it is investigating the allegations of food aid diversion with the US.
“While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance in Ethiopia, nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals programmes, and activities for building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists will continue uninterrupted,” said WFP spokesperson Annalisa Conte.
“WFP is working closely with its UN and humanitarian partners and local stakeholders to reform the way assistance is delivered across Ethiopia and in all high-risk operational contexts where we work,” she said.
The suspension of food aid in Ethiopia is a major blow to the people of the country, where more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The resignations come after an internal investigation launched last month over reports that significant amounts of food meant for hungry people in Ethiopia’s war-affected northern Tigray region had been sold on the commercial market. The probe also indicated significant diversions elsewhere in the country.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, who took the helm of the UN agency in April, said last month that those “found responsible must be held accountable” for food theft.
Both the Ethiopian federal government and the interim regional government in Tigray have vowed to cooperate with WFP’s probe.
“We briefed [a US government] delegation on the progress in the investigation into allegations of aid diversion,” Getachew Reda, the head of the interim government in Tigray, tweeted today. “We have shared highlights of findings & reassured them that we will make the findings public & hold those responsible to account very soon.”
The initial findings of the internal probe suggest that food aid diversion goes beyond Tigray and includes the drought-affected Somali region, WFP insiders said. Again speaking on condition of anonymity, they said they were told at the 2 June meeting that more resignations, including Jibidar’s deputy, Jennifer Bitonde, are expected in the coming weeks as the Ethiopian country team is overhauled.
“There have always been delays in food deliveries, and diversions,” the aid worker said. “Clearly the system is broken.”
The Ethiopian foreign ministry has said it is investigating the allegations of food aid diversion with the US.
“While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance in Ethiopia, nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals programmes, and activities for building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists will continue uninterrupted,” said WFP spokesperson Annalisa Conte.
“WFP is working closely with its UN and humanitarian partners and local stakeholders to reform the way assistance is delivered across Ethiopia and in all high-risk operational contexts where we work,” she said.
The suspension of food aid in Ethiopia is a major blow to the people of the country, where more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
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