Early warnings must be heeded to protect coping capacity and prevent a foreseeable shock from becoming an irreversible setback. A strong El Niño event is expected to persist from this year until February 2027, transforming global weather systems and triggering devastating climate extremes. The World Meteorological Organization has reported a 100% chance of El Niño…
As the 2026-27 El Niño intensifies, WFP climate expert Richard Choularton explains why millions could face hunger and food insecurity, which regions are most at risk from droughts, floods and storms, and why early action is essential. WFP has been warning for months about this 2026-27 El Niño. Now that it’s arrived, what are we…
The Horn of Africa is approaching the final months of 2026 with an increasingly important climate signal that is a strengthening El Niño that could bring substantially wetter conditions to parts of the region while increasing the risks of flooding, landslides, crop damage, disease outbreaks and infrastructure disruption. El Niño is a recurring climate phenomenon…
From South Sudan to Guatemala, learn how WFP’s anticipatory projects ensure vulnerable people can better prepare and respond to weather shocks. What remains today of the seasonal Singaita River, in South Sudan‘s Eastern Equatoria state, is a long stretch of sand cutting through a landscape scorched by relentless heat. Fields that should be green with…
Kigali — As climate disasters frequent across the African continent, governments have been promoting climate-smart innovations, including the development of drought-resistant crops. Drought-resistant and nutritious staples such as millet and sorghum and drought-tolerant maize varieties are some crops helping farmers survive dry seasons. But there has been a decline in the adoption of these drought-tolerant…
Cocoa prices are rising as disease, weak pod development and the return of El Niño threaten the next harvest in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which together account for more than half of global supply. New York cocoa reached an 11-month high as traders focused on risks to the 2026/27 crop. Ghana’s Cocoa Board estimates production…
Nairobi — UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect children from a predictable crisis More than 162 million children, over two-thirds of all children in Eastern and Southern Africa, live in areas exposed to the impact of the strengthening 2026/2027 El Niño, UNICEF warned today. Intensifying drought, extreme heat and flooding threaten children’s nutrition, health,…
Nearly 50 million more people in highly vulnerable communities globally are set to be pushed into acute hunger because of the strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday. In response, the agency and partners are already boosting efforts in eight countries to protect some of the most vulnerable…
As much of the world faces grapples with above normal temperatures and major rainfall changes, the UN Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that El Niño, a powerful climate pattern shaping global weather, will intensify starting next month. Why it matters A strong El Niño is developing and expected to strengthen during August through October,…
Addis Ababa — The African Union Commission has emphasized today the need for stronger continental preparedness and coordinated action to mitigate the potential impacts of the anticipated 2026 El Niño phenomenon. The 2026 El Niño phenomenon is a Pacific Ocean warming climate phenomenon which is expected to pose risks to food security, livelihoods, water resources…
