The agency said that an internal investigation has revealed that the aid sent to satisfy the hunger of millions of people is being manipulated on a large scale.
While the agency did not say in its statement who was responsible for the grain theft, agency chief Samantha Power said the theft appeared to be “complicit on both sides” amid the government-insurgent feud. ‘
Power called the delay in spotting the “widespread and concerted” theft of food aid a “failure” of his agency.
America is the country that provides the most help to Ethiopia. In fiscal year 2022, the US provided US $ 1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance, including food aid. Some 20 million people in Ethiopia depend on support because of conflict and drought.
According to a memorandum prepared on behalf of a group of donors, Ethiopia’s federal government is mishandling food aid.
Another document states that later in March, USAID personnel visited 63 flour mills in seven of Ethiopia’s nine regions and found that USAID-funded humanitarian food items, along with food donated by France, Japan and Ukraine, Heavy manipulation has taken place.
