The nationwide food aid suspensions follow USAID and WFP saying last month they had suspended food deliveries to Ethiopia's northern Tigray region while they investigated reports of food aid theft there. In a joint statement with USAID on Thursday, the Ethiopian foreign ministry spoke of “deeply concerning revelations” and said it was investigating with the US “so that the perpetrators of such diversion are held to account.” “The scheme appears to be orchestrated by federal and regional government of Ethiopia entities, with military units across the country benefiting from humanitarian assistance,” said the document from the Humanitarian and Resilience Donor Group, which includes bilateral and multilateral partners. However, an internal memo prepared by a group of foreign donor representatives and seen by the AP this week pointed at government involvement. USAID, WFP and the Ethiopian government have not said who is responsible for the food diversion, which the US has described as “widespread and coordinated.' The suspensions brought worries that malnutrition could rise in Africa's second most populous country, Much of the aid comes from USAID and the World Food Program. Some 20 million Ethiopians rely on food aid because of drought and conflict, out of the country's population of roughly 120 million. The program's head office in Rome declined further comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

“Food diversion is absolutely unacceptable, and we welcome the government of Ethiopia’s commitment to investigate and hold accountable those responsible,” WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said.

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