By Paschal Norbert
ADIGRAT, JUNE 23, 2023 (CISA) – Rt. Rev. Tesfasellassie Medhin, Bishop of the Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat that covers Tigray has appealed to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and other donors to reconsider their decision on halting food aid assistance to Ethiopia as thousands rely on the aid after years of devastating conflict in the region.
“I call upon donors and decision-makers to consider our shared humanity and beg them not to pronounce a death sentence upon those trying to survive in the wake of a terrible armed conflict, those who are dying now,” said Bishop Medhin.
WFP on June 9, 2023, announced a temporary suspension of food assistance to Ethiopia after reports of widespread theft and diversion of food aid deliveries in the country.
“While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance in Ethiopia, nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals programs, and activities for building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists will continue uninterrupted,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain at the time.
According to Bishop Medhin, there must be an urgent solution to the stalemate other than stopping the aid deliveries since many people who rely on the supplies are dying.
“There must be another solution to this scandal other than stopping the delivery of food supplies to the displaced and others who are desperately trying to feed themselves and their children. Today hundreds are actually dying,” the 70-year-old prelate stated.
With cities and homes looted, hospitals destroyed, businesses razed to the ground, and sacred places desecrated, almost all of Tigray’s 6 million inhabitants depend on food aid, after two years of civil war and government-imposed restrictions on humanitarian aid that have pushed parts of the region to the brink of famine.
In a joint statement made by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and USAID on June 9, the two entities announced their commitment to addressing the deeply concerning revelations of aid diversion in the country as WFP “is accelerating efforts to roll out enhanced safeguards and controls that will ensure humanitarian food assistance reaches targeted, vulnerable people across Ethiopia.”
“Food diversion is absolutely unacceptable and we welcome the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment to investigate and hold accountable those responsible,” said Cindy McCain, adding that “Our first concern is the millions of hungry people who depend on our support, and our teams will work tirelessly with all partners to resume our operations as soon as we can ensure that food reaches the people who need it the most.”
