By LJDemssie
September 08, 2024
I am writing to urgently request an investigation into the TPLF and the interim Tigray region leaderships’ mishandling of humanitarian aid in Tigray, Ethiopia. A recent televised event has raised serious concerns about the distribution and management of aid intended for the people of Tigray. Follow the hyperlink to listen to the allegation starting from timestamp 6:22 to 14:40.
At a meeting held in Adigrat, Tigray, on September 4, 2024, Getachew Reda, the interim president of Tigray, was confronted by a local woman. She expressed the dire situations faced by the people, stating, while you (the leaders of Tigray, the TPLF and interim administration, and the military leaders) are enjoying ‘ሙክት’ well-fed lambs, we (the people of Adigrat) don’t even have crumbs. You even locked up the humanitarian aid that came for us and are consuming it yourselves. You even let our humanitarian aid be consumed by grain pest infestation (weevils, grain borers, and grain moths) instead of distributing it to us as the donors hoped and trusted you to do.
This testimony highlights a critical issue: the alleged pattern of culture of mismanagement and misuse of humanitarian aid by the TPLF leadership for almost four decades. For context, the TPLF has long been accused of mishandling aid, including selling humanitarian supplies meant for the people of Tigray in Sudan in the 1970s and 1980s. These allegations are well-documented and can be found in various reports, including those by the BBC.
Given the severity of these accusations and the suffering of the people of Tigray, I urge the Federal Government of Ethiopia, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, USAID Ethiopia, WFP Ethiopia, and other humanitarian aid organizations to conduct a thorough investigation into these claims. It is imperative that the aid intended for the people of Tigray reaches them without obstruction and that those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable.
I trust that you will take immediate action to address this urgent matter and ensure justice for the people of Tigray.
Sincerely,
LJDemissie
The writer, LJDemissie, can be reached [email protected] or @LJDemissie (Twitter).
