BY ADDISALEM MULAT
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Food Program (WFP) are two of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world. They are dedicated to providing emergency assistance and life-saving resources to individuals and communities in need, regardless of their location or circumstances. With a focus on supporting vulnerable populations and alleviating suffering, both organizations have been instrumental in providing aid to countries facing humanitarian crises.
The decision by the USAID and WFP to suspend aid delivery to Ethiopia is, therefore, a significant departure from their founding principles. By halting aid delivery to a country experiencing a humanitarian crisis, the organizations are contravening their fundamental mandate to provide help to those who need it most.
While the decision to suspend aid delivery may be justified based on concerns about safety and security, the humanitarian needs of the population cannot be ignored. People are suffering, and those who are most vulnerable are at risk of losing their lives due to a lack of access to life-saving resources. Therefore, the decision to suspend aid delivery to Ethiopia may be perceived as a failure by the organizations to fulfill their core mandate of providing assistance in times of crisis.
The decision by the USAID and WFP to suspend aid delivery to Ethiopia sends the wrong message to other countries and organizations around the world. It suggests that humanitarian assistance may be conditional, and that aid may be withheld if certain conditions are not met. This could have significant implications for the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance globally. It may lead to other countries or organizations being more hesitant to provide aid in similar circumstances, reducing the flow of life-saving resources to those in need.
By the same token, the decision by the USAID and WFP to suspend aid delivery to Ethiopia is a complex issue that involves a balance between ensuring the safety and security of staff and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need. However, as humanitarian organizations, the priority should always be to provide aid and support to those in need, regardless of the circumstances.
A sudden halt in aid delivery would make it nearly impossible for vulnerable populations to access the basic necessities of life, making the humanitarian situation worse rather than better. It is paradoxical that USAID and WFP have rushed to halt the aid delivery while the Ethiopian government is still investigating the allegations of aid diversion. It is evident that the USAID and WFP’s decision is not based on any interest in the welfare of the Ethiopian people but rather stems from political motivations and agendas.
This politically-motivated move is not only unacceptable but also immoral. The ultimate goal of any humanitarian organization, including USAID and WFP, should be to provide aid to those in need and alleviate suffering, regardless of political considerations. Furthermore, the organizations decision to suspend aid delivery without considering the consequences of their actions is callous and neglectful.
It is also important to note that USAID and WFP have a responsibility to support the Ethiopian government in their investigation of the aid diversion allegations. By choosing to suspend aid delivery unilaterally without any input from the Ethiopian government, they are undermining the investigation and hindering the progress of the process. Moreover, the suspension of aid delivery without a thorough investigation into the allegations of aid diversion implies that USAID and WFP operate based on unfounded allegations and rumors rather than evidence.
The aid delivery suspension may cause other organizations and countries to follow suit, which would result in further deprivation and misery for Ethiopians. It is unacceptable for organizations that claim to be motivated by humanitarian concerns to act this way. In light of these concerns, it is essential that USAID and WFP reassess their decision to suspend aid delivery. They must recognize that their actions will lead to more suffering and deprivation for millions of Ethiopians.
Instead, they should work closely with the Ethiopian government in investigating the allegations of aid diversion and take appropriate actions based on the investigation’s findings. The decision by USAID and WFP to halt aid delivery to Ethiopia is a politically-motivated move that will cause significant harm to innocent Ethiopians. The aid suspension undermines the humanitarian mission and fails to align with the organizations’ stated values of supporting vulnerable populations in times of crisis.
Rather than acting based on unfounded allegations and rumors, USAID and WFP should work with the Ethiopian government to investigate the allegations of aid diversion and take appropriate measures based on the investigation’s findings. The organizations need to prioritize the basic needs of Ethiopian people, such as food, water, and medicine, and not let political considerations take precedence over human lives.
It is widely acknowledged that halting aid delivery to vulnerable populations is a profoundly misguided and harmful approach. It is a decision that can directly impact those who rely on aid to survive, making it an unconscionable course of action. Such choices are typically driven by interest groups that aim to impose their own agendas under the guise of humanitarianism, which further complicates the matter.
The people affected by conflict, natural disasters, and other crises are the ones who suffer the most from this measure. The decision seems to contradict the very foundation of international law and the humanitarian principles that dictate the provision of aid to vulnerable populations in times of need.
In situations where aid is suspended, vulnerable populations are left without access to essential supplies, such as food, water, medicine, and shelter. They are already in precarious circumstances, and a lack of access to aid only makes it harder for them to survive. It is, therefore, crucial that any decision surrounding aid provision be made with a deep understanding of the impact it will have on those who are most in need. When it comes to aid provision, it is critical that decisions be made based on a genuine desire to support vulnerable people, rather than for political gain or to promote self-interest.
By halting aid delivery, interest groups may be attempting to leverage a crisis to advance a political agenda, which is both highly unethical and deeply problematic. In the face of crises, those who are most vulnerable need help the most, and it is the responsibility of aid organizations and governments to provide that help without hesitation. These organizations must recognize their duty to protect and support vulnerable populations, regardless of the political impact that such support may have.
The intentional withholding of food from those who need it is an affront to basic human rights and can lead to severe harm. The Ethiopian government has demonstrated a strong commitment to tackling food diversion, recognizing that it undermines their efforts to address the country’s various humanitarian crises. In Ethiopia, food diversion is seen as a criminal offense, and any individual or organization found guilty of such nefarious activity is held accountable under the law.
The government of Ethiopia has been taking bold steps to identify and prosecute those who engage in diversionary tactics. This push is bolstered by recognition of the scope of the problem, as the occurrence of food diversion exacerbates the struggle of Ethiopia’s vulnerable population. These organizations, too, have a responsibility to ensure the food and aid they provide are not being diverted or exploited for personal gain.
Halting aid delivery is a highly criticized measure as it has significant and lasting effects on those who are most vulnerable in society. It is a decision that often comes from interest groups who put their political interests before the needs of the affected populations. Such decisions violate international law and contradict the very foundations of humanitarian principles. The most critical factor in the provision of aid must always be a commitment to help vulnerable populations and prioritize their needs above any political agenda.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Food Program (WFP) decision to suspend aid delivery to Ethiopia contravenes their founding principle of helping people in need, a source familiar with the issue said.
The very establishment of aid organizations is supporting people in need and punishing innocent citizens for political gain is illegal, immoral and crime against humanity. The aid is diverted by some actor’s misconduct and suspending the aid without necessary investigation is unfair and unacceptable, former Ethiopian Human Right Commission Commissioner Ambassador Tiruneh Zena told The Ethiopian Herald.
This politically-motivated measure is putting closer to one million people in a dire humanitarian situation and it would also make collateral damage and further exacerbate the problem. Surprisingly enough, the aid agencies rushed to halt the aid delivery while the Ethiopian government has been investigating the allegation which makes the former’s measure is unacceptable and immoral. “They rather need to support the government in investigating the case.
Tiruneh further noted that halting the aid delivery is a highly condemned measure since it directly affects the people in need of aid. Such kinds of decisions were emanated from some interest groups that want to impose political interests at the disguise of humanitarianism. “What makes the decision bad is that it hurts the needy people affected by conflict and others and contradicts international law.”
Commending the government’s commitment to investigate the case and to hold those who are involved accountable, he said food diversion is a serious crime in internal law and norms. The government should make more of a push to bring those involved in food diversion to law.
The Ethiopian Herald 22 June 2023
