Geneva, October 22, 2026 : The United Nations has warned that the current El Niño phenomenon could intensify to unprecedented levels, triggering widespread climate disruptions and increasing hunger risks for an estimated 50 million people.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Geneva on Wednesday, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher called for urgent preventive action to protect vulnerable communities from the potential effects.
They said El Niño could reach its peak toward the end of 2026, with its impacts potentially lasting for an extended period.
Fletcher said the UN had allocated more than USD 50 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to assist 11 countries at risk, including Chad, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.
He emphasized the need to deliver humanitarian assistance before disasters occur and to help farmers and herders safeguard their livelihoods against climate-related threats.
The WMO cautioned that El Niño's effects would differ across regions. Some areas could experience intense rainfall and flooding, while others face worsening droughts, water shortages and agricultural losses.
These disruptions could deepen existing humanitarian and economic crises, increase displacement and heighten the risk of conflict, underscoring the importance of early action and preparedness.
Source: QNA
