Famine Early Warning Systems and Response: the Missing Link

Famines caused by drought in Africa are now rarely surprise events and are usually foreshadowed by early warning signals. In spite of the clear warning signs indicating famine, relief assistance continues to arrive too little and too late. This book examines the role of early warning information in decision-making processes, particularly within key donor agencies. It investigates why early warning signals were not translated into timely intervention and draws on case studies from Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Mali and Kenya (focusing on Turkana District) during the drought years of 1990-91. Two major constraints are identified. The first is the inability of the current international relief system to respond before potential problems turn into emergencies. The second lies within the complex arena of relations between national governments and aid donors, where red tape and political manoeuvring can delay aid shipments and block relief efforts. The book concludes with practical policy recommendations on how to forge the link between early warning and effective response, paying attention to the crucial question of who "owns" early warning information, and how that information is used.
It also looks at the logistics of emergency relief, and makes suggestions about how relief operations can be speeded up.