WASHINGTON: The United States Agency for International Development announced on Wednesday the temporary suspension of its food assistance to the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
The agency referred the matter to its Office of the Inspector General, which launched an investigation, and sent leaders from its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to Ethiopia before deciding to on a temporary pause in food aid, she said. She said Usaid “stands ready” to restart the program once strong oversight measures are in place and it has confidence that assistance will reach the intended vulnerable populations.
The government and Tigray forces agreed to end the hostilities in November, which has allowed additional aid to reach the region and for some services to be restored.