UN Warns of Exceptional El Niño Threatening 50 Million People With Hunger
UN Warns of Exceptional El Niño Threatening 50 Million People With Hunger
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The United Nations has warned of potentially severe humanitarian and climate impacts from an expected El Niño event, with forecasts suggesting unusually high ocean temperatures that could trigger extreme heat, flooding and drought. The resulting weather disruptions could increase hunger and food insecurity risks for approximately 50 million people worldwide.
According to the latest seasonal forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean are expected to rise around 3.8 degrees Celsius above normal between November and January, with the phenomenon projected to peak in December.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the anticipated increase would be unprecedented in climate records. Previous strong El Niño events recorded temperature anomalies of around three degrees Celsius and had widespread effects across multiple regions of the world.
El Niño is the warm phase of a natural climate cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. It influences global temperatures and rainfall patterns, potentially bringing drought to some regions while increasing the risk of flooding in others.
The WMO warned that parts of southern Africa could face an elevated risk of flooding from November. Meanwhile, higher temperatures and reduced rainfall could threaten agriculture and water supplies in Southeast Asia, while parts of Latin America may experience increased precipitation.
Extreme weather could also place additional pressure on health services, housing, water supplies and sanitation systems, particularly in communities already vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
