FEWS NET famine warning system shows data gaps for Somalia and other regions

The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), a U.S.-based database used by aid organizations to predict and respond to global hunger crises, is facing significant reporting gaps. Although the system was previously unavailable and later brought back online, recent updates show a lack of recent data for critical regions.

Specifically, Somalia has not seen profile updates since July, despite a worsening food crisis affecting an estimated 6.5 million people. Furthermore, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen were removed from the “Peak Food Assistance Needs Outlook Brief” published in August 2026.

Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and a former USAID official, noted that Somalia is historically one of the most frequently reported countries by FEWS NET. The reporting gaps come amid previous administration cuts to aid funding for these three nations, which continue to experience widespread food insecurity.