This early-warning system can warn families of drought to help avoid famine

Aug 20, 2019

A girl carries an empty bucket over her head to collect water at Yazarthingyan lake in Dala township, near Yangon May 12, 2013. Dala township is located near the sea and the only source of freshwater is from the inland lakes which have all dried up, with the exception of Yazarthingyan lake. According to the local authorities, the lake is only open to locals once every three days, with over 1,000 people lining up to collect water when the authorities open the lake from 4 pm to 5 pm. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1E95C1MTN01

Malnutrition affects tens of millions of people worldwide. Image: REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Harrison Tasoff

Writer, Futurity

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Advances in FEWS NET’s monitoring and communication contributed to a much better outcome when drought hit East Africa in 2016 and 2017 compared to the 2011 Somali famine. Image: Funk et al.

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