Ethiopia, with the help of the World Food Program, has an early warning system that monitors food shortages and communicates danger of famine. This system has been evolving since 1976. Currently, it is implemented by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee. The activities performed by this Committee include assessing the adequacy of food to local populations, monitoring the effect of climatic variation on food availability, supplying seed or food where necessary, and communicating the risk of famine to a wide audience through media and other means.