this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2023
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The United Nations World Food Program is slowly resuming food aid to Ethiopia nearly five months after taking the extraordinary measure of suspending aid to millions of people after the discovery of a massive scheme to steal donated grain. WFP said it’s testing small-scale distribution in some areas but acknowledges that the government still plays a role in the process.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The United States, however, says its own suspension of food aid to the East African country will continue while it negotiates with Ethiopia’s government for reforms of a system long controlled by local authorities.

In a written response Monday evening to questions, the WFP told The Associated Press that the agency has started distributing wheat to around 100,000 people in four districts of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on July 31 as it tests “enhanced controls and measures for delivering food assistance.” Tigray is recovering from a two-year conflict with Ethiopian forces that ended in November.

The WFP’s new measures include digitally registering beneficiaries, adding markings to grain sacks, feedback hotlines and more training for aid partners.

The agency hopes to roll out its new distribution system to other parts of Ethiopia as soon as possible, WFP said, adding that it’s confident the measures will help to ensure food reaches the people who need it most.

In a single Tigray town, enough stolen food aid to feed 134,000 people for a month was found instead for sale in markets, still marked with the U.S. flag.

The U.S. Agency for International Development told the AP in a written response to questions that the resumption of WFP aid is not funded by the U.S., which continues its suspension.


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[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The United States, however, says its own suspension of food aid to the East African country will continue while it negotiates with Ethiopia’s government for reforms of a system long controlled by local authorities.

In a written response Monday evening to questions, the WFP told The Associated Press that the agency has started distributing wheat to around 100,000 people in four districts of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on July 31 as it tests “enhanced controls and measures for delivering food assistance.” Tigray is recovering from a two-year conflict with Ethiopian forces that ended in November.

The WFP’s new measures include digitally registering beneficiaries, adding markings to grain sacks, feedback hotlines and more training for aid partners.

The agency hopes to roll out its new distribution system to other parts of Ethiopia as soon as possible, WFP said, adding that it’s confident the measures will help to ensure food reaches the people who need it most.

In a single Tigray town, enough stolen food aid to feed 134,000 people for a month was found instead for sale in markets, still marked with the U.S. flag.

The U.S. Agency for International Development told the AP in a written response to questions that the resumption of WFP aid is not funded by the U.S., which continues its suspension.


I'm a bot and I'm open source!