The US government's famine monitoring system has been halted in response to the Trump administration's recent freeze on foreign assistance, raising concerns about global food insecurity.
Frozen Future: US Famine-Warning System Halted Amid Aid Freeze
Frozen Future: US Famine-Warning System Halted Amid Aid Freeze
US famine monitoring system goes offline following Trump's foreign aid pause
The United States' vital system for tracking global famine risks—the Famine Early Warning System Network (Fewsnet)—has been taken offline due to a 90-day suspension of nearly all foreign aid ordered by former President Donald Trump. Established in the wake of the catastrophic 1984 Ethiopian famine, Fewsnet was designed to amalgamate weather data and political analysis to forecast drought and food shortages globally. Its close ties to US government agencies, including USAID and NASA, rendered it a critical tool in directing emergency aid where it is most needed.
The decision to halt operations comes amidst a broader suspension of foreign assistance, estimated at nearly $70 billion annually, which was enacted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although emergency food aid remains exempt, Fewsnet’s vital operations did not receive the same protection, raising alarms over impending famines worldwide. Experts assert that the system has mitigated crises in the past, such as the 2016 drought in East Africa, highlighting its role in positioning food supplies effectively ahead of disasters.
While the Trump administration’s rationale for the aid freeze centers on ensuring efficiency and alignment with an "America First" policy, this has left significant confusion within the global aid sector. The halt of Fewsnet's services, described as "insanely important" by former USAID official Dave Harden, could undermine international efforts to combat food insecurity, particularly in countries like Sudan, which is currently facing famine due to ongoing conflicts.
Despite Rubio's assurances that "life-saving" initiatives could seek waivers from the suspension, the operational freeze on Fewsnet remains unchanged. The long-term implications of this abrupt halt are concerning, particularly as global food crises loom on the horizon. Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior USAID official, stressed the importance of Fewsnet as the world’s premier resource for predicting food shortages, emphasizing its role as a global public good accessible to all nations and humanitarian organizations.
In this context, the apprehension among experts grows as they question how the US will safeguard against impending famines without its primary analytical tool in place.
The decision to halt operations comes amidst a broader suspension of foreign assistance, estimated at nearly $70 billion annually, which was enacted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although emergency food aid remains exempt, Fewsnet’s vital operations did not receive the same protection, raising alarms over impending famines worldwide. Experts assert that the system has mitigated crises in the past, such as the 2016 drought in East Africa, highlighting its role in positioning food supplies effectively ahead of disasters.
While the Trump administration’s rationale for the aid freeze centers on ensuring efficiency and alignment with an "America First" policy, this has left significant confusion within the global aid sector. The halt of Fewsnet's services, described as "insanely important" by former USAID official Dave Harden, could undermine international efforts to combat food insecurity, particularly in countries like Sudan, which is currently facing famine due to ongoing conflicts.
Despite Rubio's assurances that "life-saving" initiatives could seek waivers from the suspension, the operational freeze on Fewsnet remains unchanged. The long-term implications of this abrupt halt are concerning, particularly as global food crises loom on the horizon. Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior USAID official, stressed the importance of Fewsnet as the world’s premier resource for predicting food shortages, emphasizing its role as a global public good accessible to all nations and humanitarian organizations.
In this context, the apprehension among experts grows as they question how the US will safeguard against impending famines without its primary analytical tool in place.
