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UN agency steps up measures to stop theft of food aid in Ethiopia

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Israel Ojoko
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The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a plan to prevent further diversion of food aid in Ethiopia, following reports of significant amounts of humanitarian supplies being sold in local markets in the conflict-affected Tigray region.

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(Also Read: World Food Programme Seeks Iran’s Assistance in Transporting Indian Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan)

WFP's zero-tolerance policy

The WFP said it has a zero-tolerance policy for any theft or misuse of food aid that prevents it from reaching hungry families who need it to survive. The agency paused distributions in Tigray last month after finding evidence of its food stocks on sale in shops and launched an investigation.

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"WFP is committed to doing everything it takes to guarantee that food assistance benefits the people who need it most," said Executive Director Cindy McCain in a statement on Tuesday. "Those found responsible must be held accountable."

(Also Read: France Collaborates with WFP to Combat Malnutrition in Northern Mozambique)

WFP's plan of action

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The WFP's plan of action will be implemented across all its operations in Ethiopia, where over 20 million people are in dire need of food assistance due to prolonged conflict and a historic drought across the Horn of Africa.

The plan includes conducting real-time food security and needs assessments, strengthening targeting and management of beneficiary lists and identity checks, and reinforcing tracking to follow food movements from warehouses to beneficiaries.

The agency will also work closely with Ethiopian regional and national authorities, and with partners, to implement needed reforms so that urgent food assistance can resume in Tigray and supports intended beneficiaries nationwide.

"Taking food away from the starving is unacceptable, whether in Ethiopia or anywhere else in the world," said Ms. McCain. "WFP is actively assessing all high-risk country operations to ensure stringent processes are in place so that our assistance makes it to the millions and millions of hungry people who depend on us."

Ethiopia HumanitarianAssistance ZeroTolerance FoodAid WFP
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