Technology is helping to secure World Food Programme's food aid supply chain.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is digitalising its systems to enhance its humanitarian response to conflict-prone Ethiopia.

The United Nations agency is revamping its distribution system to include a new digital registry of all food insecure families who are provided a digitally readable ration card.

WFP is now also rolling out biometric registration and has strengthened its beneficiary feedback system, among a host of new measures and controls put in place last year to ensure food reaches the hungriest.

The agency has conducted a targeting exercise based on vulnerability, and digitally registered the most food insecure families throughout its areas of operation in the northern Tigray region, including Raya Azebo.

“This (digitalisation) project doesn’t only restore people’s livelihoods,” said Ezgimelese Tecleab, WFP programme policy officer.

“It represents a new hope for the future, especially considering the challenges communities in these areas have faced over the past four years.”

Ethiopia's recurring ethnic violence has had the greatest impact on Tigray.

Over 400 000 people remain displaced in Tigray two years after hostilities ended.

WFP was forced to reduce monthly rations to 80 percent of the minimum required cereal portions, because of insufficient funding.