US Aid Freeze Halts Famine Monitoring System, Igniting Global Concerns

The suspension of the Famine Early Warning System Network threatens timely responses to food crises globally.

The United States’ capability to monitor impending global famines has come to a grinding halt due to a recent decision by former President Donald Trump, who ordered a 90-day freeze on nearly all US foreign aid. The Famine Early Warning System Network (Fewsnet), established following the tragic famine in Ethiopia in 1984, was designed with the goal of preventing future food crises by predicting droughts and food insecurity through a blend of weather data and political analysis contributed by US agencies like USAID and NASA.

This sophisticated system, recognized internationally for its effectiveness, has been crucial in allowing aid officials to prepare for emergencies, thus saving lives by ensuring that food supplies are strategically pre-positioned before crisis situations escalate. It was a significant factor in helping to mitigate the severe impacts of the drought that struck the Horn of Africa in 2016. The network's utility is even more pressing in the current famine in Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing conflict.

According to a source familiar with Fewsnet's operations, the network's critical briefing service has been disrupted as a direct result of Trump's aid freeze, which has a budgetary impact close to $70 billion per year, excluding emergency food provisions and military aid to allies like Israel and Egypt. Communications from USAID acknowledge the shutdown without comments on its implications.

Dave Harden, who once oversaw Fewsnet operations during the East African food security crisis, emphasized the system's importance, noting, "Having Fewsnet allowed us to pre-position food and supplies effectively in Ethiopia, which was a markedly different approach from what happened in 1984."

In the wake of this aid freeze, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken steps to broaden the types of projects that can receive exemptions, such as life-saving medical aid and shelter services. However, significant uncertainty remains within the global aid community, which relies on the timely data and guidance that Fewsnet offers.

Although the exemptions for emergency food aid have been recognized, the famine-tracking operation appears to be left in limbo. Jeremy Konyndyk, a former USAID official, referred to Fewsnet as "the single best resource" in the world for predicting food insecurity and underscored its global significance as a public good accessible to any donor or government worldwide. He stressed its critical role in alerting stakeholders to emerging food crises, further highlighting the potential repercussions of the aid suspension under Trump’s administration.