World News
U.S. famine warning system to resume reporting on Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen
The State Department announced a return to active reporting for the three countries after facing criticism for pausing data updates amidst funding cuts.
The short version
- The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), a critical U.S.-funded database used by global aid groups, paused its reporting on Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen over the summer.
- Following criticism from aid organizations and former officials, the State Department announced that FEWS NET will resume reporting on these countries in September.
- The suspension of data occurred alongside deep U.S. humanitarian aid cuts to these three countries, which are currently experiencing widespread food insecurity.
Key facts
- FEWS NET eliminated Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen from its regular outlook brief on August 14, 2026, and paused reporting on those countries after July.[NPR]
- Following criticism from organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and former USAID employees, the State Department stated that FEWS NET will resume reporting on the three countries in September.[NPR]
- According to United Nations estimates, acute food insecurity affects approximately 6.5 million people in Somalia, 14 million in Afghanistan, and 5 million in Yemen.[NPR]
- The United States froze nearly all humanitarian aid to Somalia in January after the Trump administration accused Somali officials of seizing food aid and destroying a U.S.-funded warehouse.[NPR]
- FEWS NET was previously suspended for six months in early 2025 during a unilateral freeze on foreign assistance by the Trump administration.[NPR]