ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) 鈥� The United Nations food relief agency is investigating the theft of food aid from lifesaving humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
The World Food Program鈥檚 Ethiopia director, Claude Jibidar, says in the letter that 鈥淲FP is very concerned about the large-scale sale of food in some markets鈥� which 鈥減oses not only a reputational risk but also threatens our capacity to mobilize more resources for the needy people."
He adds that it 鈥渋s therefore imperative that immediate actions be taken to curb ... the misappropriation and diversion of humanitarian food鈥� in the country.
The letter is dated April 5 and addressed to humanitarian partners of WFP in Ethiopia, where drought and internal conflict have left 20 million of the country's 120 million people reliant on aid.
Jibidar asks the partner organizations to share 鈥渁ny information or cases of food misuse, misappropriation or diversion that you are aware of or that are brought to your attention by your staff, beneficiaries or local authorities.鈥�
The letter does not mention any specific cases. However, two aid workers told AP the stolen aid included enough food for 100,000 people and was recently discovered missing from a warehouse in Sheraro, a town badly affected by the conflict in Ethiopia鈥檚 northern Tigray region. The aid workers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
It was not clear who was responsible for stealing the aid from the Sheraro warehouse, which was previously looted by Eritrean soldiers allied to Ethiopia鈥檚 federal government in a separate incident. One of the aid workers said it was supplied by USAID and due to be distributed by partners.
In an emailed statement, USAID said it "has proactively identified recent diversion of some of our assistance in Northern Ethiopia.鈥�
鈥淲e are in regular communication with our implementing partners regarding incidents of reported diversion and continue to monitor developments closely and take all necessary steps to stop the diversion,鈥� the agency added.
signed by the federal government and its Tigray rivals in November has seen restrictions eased and aid deliveries have resumed to the region, where 5.2 million people need humanitarian help.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $331 million in funding for aid agencies working in Ethiopia during a last month.
Meanwhile, fighting between Ethiopia鈥檚 federal military and units of a regional force continued in several parts of the country鈥檚 Amhara state on Tuesday, amid to fold Ethiopia鈥檚 regional security service into the national army.
Gunbattles between rival units were ongoing in Debre Birhan and Bahir Dar, the regional capital, on Tuesday morning, according to residents and aid workers. The towns of Sekota and Dessie saw shooting on Monday night.
Roads, shops and banks remain closed in several areas as the regional government placed restrictions on movement and protests continued.
The Associated Press
