Ethiopia’s Disaster Risk Management Commission has accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of diverting food aid that has been destined to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Hitsats and other IDPs centers.
In an interview with local media on Thursday, head of the commission Shiferaw Tekelemariam said the TPLF has been using the IDPs as a political tool to gain international attention even if the federal government has been providing food aid to the displaced people without interruption.
He said TPLF has been diverting the food aid, preventing it from reaching the people who need it most,” stating the alleged practice as part of TPLF’s a long- standing point.
“This is not a new phenomenon, but a defining characteristic of the group,” he said, adding that the TPLF has reportedly used aid intended for displaced persons to stage “dramatic propaganda” aimed at drawing international attention.
The commissioner called on the international community to ensure accountability in the distribution of humanitarian aid, emphasizing that federal assistance is backed by clear data and evidence. He warned that narratives promoted by the TPLF should not mislead donors or partners.
The recent claims about the “hunger” in Hitsats temporary shelter in Asgede district follow a familiar pattern, with “TPLF”-aligned outlets, Diaspora blogs, and social media portraying abandonment and hunger using emotive images and unverified reports of deaths, he said.
Teklemariam said that assistance has been provided in accordance with universal standards across all Ethiopian communities.
Tekelemariam highlighted that, despite the reported misuse of aid, the federal government continues to provide “reliable and sustainable” humanitarian support across Tigray. According to the Commission, between January and December 2025, two million quintals of aid valued at 32 billion birr were distributed in the region.
In line with this, each needy citizen receives 15 kilograms of grain, 1.5 kilograms of pulses, and 0.45 kilograms of cooking oil per month —totaling 16.9 kilograms per person, multiplied by the number of family members.
Accordingly, a total of 2 million quintals of humanitarian aid valued at 32 billion Birr was distributed in the Tigray region from January to December 2025.
MG/as/APA