Fatouma Zahara Hasan had patiently waited for nearly an hour under the scorching sun in the Ethiopian town of Chifera, along with hundreds of others. Finally, her turn came to check off her name from a community-provided list, have her photo taken against a backdrop of crumpled tarpaulin, and receive a small card with a QR code. This card would serve as both identification and a voucher for future food aid. For months, she and millions in the Afar region had gone without United Nations’ World Food Program assistance due to severe disruptions, despite their evident need.
The U.S., the largest donor to this effort, had suspended support after warehouses in a nearby city were plundered and supplies sold on the black market. This suspension prompted the U.N. to digitize and register over 6 million Ethiopians to ensure aid went directly to those in need. Misrak Wosenyeleh of the World Food Program explained the new measures aimed at securing food assistance to the right people, in the proper amounts, at the right locations. Fatouma, a widowed mother of six, was a high priority on the aid list. Yet, even with her registration, it would likely be several weeks before she received food aid.
Meanwhile, her family subsisted mainly on local bread dipped in spiced tomato sauce. To earn some money, she served coffee on her front stoop, earning about a dollar a day. This struggle came in the aftermath of a brutal civil conflict in Afar and Tigray that left half a million people dead and countless families displaced. Her husband had been killed, and her family had to move to a distant camp before returning to find their home looted and livestock stolen. The U.N.’s annual report highlighted ongoing violent clashes and civilian deaths even after a peace agreement was reached. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasized the need for concrete measures to protect civilians and ensure justice.
Local officials expressed frustration over the U.S. food aid suspension, especially given the region’s dire climatic conditions. Mahe Ali, from the Afar disaster management commission, had repeatedly urged for the resumption of food assistance. Despite these challenges, the U.N. continued to support the most vulnerable populations, like breastfeeding mothers and their babies. For example, Merym Ali Mohammed, a mother of five, faced severe supply shortages post-war, with only her youngest child receiving food aid. With the U.S. suspension lifted, the World Food Programme aims to distribute food to over 600,000 people in the Afar region.
Workers are rapidly filling trucks with food supplies, like U.S. wheat flour and South Korean rice, to be distributed. Refugees in the region, numbering over 900,000, also began receiving food aid slightly earlier than local residents. In Barahle refugee camp, Eritrean refugee Mohammed Hassan Mohammed shared that, though his family managed to survive, many others weren't as fortunate. Ethiopian authorities have welcomed refugees despite their own challenges, relying heavily on international aid. Children around Mohammed’s home displayed signs of malnutrition, illustrating the ongoing reliance on external support in the region. Through these efforts, the simple QR-coded card has brought a glimmer of hope to the hungry in Ethiopia.
