The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has denied reports about the resignation of its senior leadership in Ethiopia over investigations into food aid diversion.

Development Diaries reports that the aid agency, in a social media post, described the report of the resignation of its Country Director for Ethiopia, Claude Jibidar, as ‘inaccurate’ contrary to a recent report by The New Humanitarian.

According to the report, both Claude Jibidar and Jennifer Bitonde tendered their resignation letters at an all-staff meeting on 02 June, 2023, ahead of an announcement of the findings of a probe into the diversion of food aid in the Tigray region that has resulted in aid suspension.

Almost 40 percent of Tigrayans were suffering an extreme lack of food after 15 months of conflict, according to a 2022 food security assessment by WFP.

WFP launched an investigation shortly after, adding that it was working closely with the regional authorities to identify individuals involved in these activities, and to close any loopholes in the process of identifying and registering beneficiaries.

‘The exact link between the resignations and the probe wasn’t immediately clear, but neither WFP nor its aid partners in Ethiopia responded to several requests for comment in time for publication’, the media report partly read.

Refuting this claim, however, the WFP issued a statement which said Jibidar ‘is currently on leave and remains a WFP employee’, and that Bitonde remains in her position at the agency.

It is important to note that while investigations are still ongoing, more than nine million people in need of humanitarian food assistance in Tigray continuously drift towards severe hunger.

We at Development Diaries urge the WFP to quickly conclude its investigations and bring those found on the wrong side of the law to justice to enable the immediate resumption of food assistance in the region.

Photo source: UNAMID