Live Aid charity concerts funded Ethiopian rebels

03/04/2010 02:59

Millions of dollars of aid, from Western governments and charities, including Live Aid and Band Aid, intended to buy food for starving Ethiopians during the country's 1984 famine were misused by rebels to buy weapons, a BBC investigation has found. A rebel leader claims that 95 per cent of the aid donated, US$95 million, was diverted into the rebel fight.

Although millions of people were saved by the Western aid that poured into Ethiopia, the evidence from the BBC investigation suggests that not all of it went to the most needy.

Rebel soldiers disguised themselves as grain traders and handed over sacks of sand hidden beneath a layer of genuine food aid in return for cash from Western donations.

"I was given clothes to make me look like a Muslim merchant. This was a trick for the NGOs," said Gebremedhin Araya, who claims he was a senior member of the TPLF.

The rebel army involved, headed by Ethiopia's current Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, went on to overthrow the Marxist government and has run the country since.

Aregawi Berhe, the former military commander of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), claimed that of the $100 million that went through the rebels’ hands, 95 per cent was diverted to buy weapons or recruit Ethiopians to their cause. He said the rebels put on a "drama" to get their hands on the relief money. "The aid workers were fooled," he said.

Abadi Zemo, a senior member of Ethiopia's ruling coalition, described the allegations as nonsensical.

The charity Christian Aid said its "investigations do not correspond to the BBC's version of events".

Read more:

Live Aid concerts funded rebels: BBC National Post
Geldof rejects claims Live Aid was duped ABC Online
Claims of Ethiopian aid used for guns TVNZ
Live Aid Famine Cash Bought Guns, Not Grain AOL News

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