FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on Famine in Africa

Original title: AFRICA'S CURRENT AND POTENTIAL FAMINES

January 1, 2017

famine Africa humanitarian aid food security South Sudan conflict refugees

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

The hearing provides a formal record of congressional oversight regarding U.S. humanitarian policy and the scale of displacement and food insecurity affecting millions in Africa.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

South Sudanese citizens

They are experiencing displacement, food insecurity, and conflict-related disruption to agricultural production.

U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa

The committee is responsible for oversight and policy review regarding international humanitarian aid and foreign affairs.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript from a 2017 House Subcommittee hearing regarding man-made famines in African nations, specifically South Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia. The hearing examined the causes of these food crises and the impact of regional conflict on agricultural stability and displacement.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on June 15, 2017, by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
The hearing was originally scheduled for June 14, 2017, but was delayed due to the shooting of Representative Steve Scalise.
The current famine conditions in Africa are described as the worst since World War II.
South Sudan is experiencing severe food insecurity, with up to 27% of the population in some areas facing famine.
There are approximately 4.8 million displaced South Sudanese people.
Approximately 1.8 million South Sudanese are refugees in neighboring countries, with 900,000 residing in Uganda.
At least 2 million South Sudanese are internally displaced persons.
The Equatoria provinces in South Sudan, historically a major agricultural region, are currently experiencing significant conflict.

Why It Matters

The hearing provides a formal record of congressional oversight regarding U.S. humanitarian policy and the scale of displacement and food insecurity affecting millions in Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this hearing held?

The hearing was held to examine the causes and impacts of current and potential famines in African countries, specifically South Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia.

What is the primary cause of the famine mentioned in the hearing?

The Chairman stated that the famine is largely man-made, driven by conflict and power struggles that have disrupted agricultural cycles.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference100% confidence

Hearing Delay Context

The hearing was delayed by one day due to the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting, linking a domestic security event to the scheduling of international policy oversight.

Steve Scalise

Connected Entities

personJulien Schopp“Witness, Director for Humanitarian Practice at InterAction”Map →

personTony P. Hall“Witness, Executive Director Emeritus of the Alliance to End Hunger”Map →

personSteve Scalise“Member of Congress referenced regarding the delay of the hearing due to a shooti”Map →

personChristopher H. Smith“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and ”Map →

personRoger Thurow“Witness, Senior Fellow at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools