In brief
The United States' Famine Early Warning System Network has been taken offline as part of a foreign aid freeze initiated by President Donald Trump, casting doubt on the future of global famine prevention initiatives.
The United States' Famine Early Warning System Network (Fewsnet), an influential system designed to monitor global famine risks, has been abruptly suspended following President Donald Trump's mandate for a 90-day halt on nearly all foreign assistance. Established after the catastrophic 1984 famine in Ethiopia, Fewsnet combines vital weather data and geopolitical analysis to effectively predict droughts and food shortages worldwide.This advanced system, developed by US agencies such as USAID and NASA, plays a critical role in aiding officials to allocate emergency food resources ahead of impending crises. Historically, it has significantly mitigated the impact of severe droughts, notably in the Horn of Africa during 2016 and currently attempts to coordinate aid amidst the ongoing famine in Sudan. A source close to Fewsnet confirmed its briefing services have ceased operation due to the recent suspension of foreign assistance funding.Recent updates from the State Department indicated that Trump's latest orders encompass a sweeping freeze on US foreign assistance, valued at approximately $70 billion annually, with some exceptions for emergency food relief and military support to certain countries. In response to the backlash, Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended eligibility for waivers to projects related to life-saving supplies, adding confusion across the global aid sector. Critics point to the vital role played by Fewsnet's predictive capabilities, with former USAID official Dave Harden noting its value in pre-positioning essential aid in Ethiopia during past emergencies. Meanwhile, Rubio emphasized the need for projects to align with Trump's “America First” policy, impacting many initiatives that typically receive funds.Jeremy Konyndyk, another former USAID official, highlighted Fewsnet as the foremost global resource for food insecurity prediction, recalling its crucial forecasting of a famine in Somalia well in advance in 2011. He lamented that while the system's closure is felt most acutely in the US, it serves as a global public good, providing critical insights to any donor or government entity worldwide. While emergency food assistance retains its exemption from the freeze, the status of the crucial famine-tracking operations remains uncertain, raising alarms about the potential consequences for global food security amid shifting foreign aid policies under the Trump administration.
