In news from Africa, The New York Times is reporting the Ethiopian government is putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk of starvation by blockading emergency food aid and choking off trade to eastern parts of the country. The area affected is home to the Ogaden National Liberation Front, a rebel group that has opposed the current government. One humanitarian official accused Ethiopia of trying to starve out the population. He said, “If something isn’t done on the diplomatic front soon, we’re going to have a government-caused famine on our hands.” The official refused to be quoted by name because he feared reprisals against aid workers. The New York Times also reports the U.S.-backed Ethiopian military and its proxy militias have been siphoning off millions of dollars in international food aid and using a U.N. polio eradication program to funnel money to pro-government fighters.