health
El Niño could push 50m people into acute hunger before end of next year
UN forecasters warn of worsening conditions in 45 countries currently experiencing severe food insecurity
TL;DR
- El Niño is forecast to push an additional 50 million people into acute hunger by the end of next year.
- Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa are expected to be the worst affected.
- The current El Niño may be the strongest in at least 70 years and is influenced by the climate crisis.
- WFP is planning early warning systems and anticipatory relief efforts, with at least $80 million budgeted.
- Farmers in southern Africa may face the worst impacts around the 2027 to 2028 lean season.
- Food prices could face upward pressure globally, with warnings of impacts on harvests in the UK and Europe.