WFP warns that El Niño could drive 49 million people into hunger by the end of the year

• WFP warns that El Niño may continue until the end of the year and could push 49 million people into hunger, with the outlook for the next 274 million people remaining uncertain.
• According to WFP, the strength of El Niño is expected to be 81%, and with a forecast it could be the strongest since 1950.
• The worst El Niño forecast WFP links to Central America and the Caribbean; however, in material it also notes that problems with monsoon rains through crop failures could affect countries such as the United States and the Caribbean.

El Niño could push 49 million people into hunger by the end of the year, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns. The agency says that the ongoing El Niño weather pattern may continue until the end of the year and could leave people in areas of high food insecurity without enough food. WFP estimates that this could affect 274 million people.

According to WFP, the probability of El Niño reaching 81% is high. The agency says that temperatures in the Pacific Ocean could rise to levels not seen since 1982, while El Niño conditions could be the strongest since 1950.

WFP says El Niño’s likely development from existing conditions could lead to drought, with the material noting that El Niño could affect Central America and the Caribbean, as well as countries in Africa, where food production may be disrupted: the forecast suggests that drought could affect 83% of Central America and 75% of the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, in the material it is noted that the strongest impact on Africa and the Caribbean could come from the monsoon rains, which could lead to crop failures in some parts of the region. It also says that in the coming months, the situation could worsen in parts of Africa, the Sahel, Central America, and the Caribbean, as El Niño could cause drought and disrupt rainfall patterns.

Based on the forecasts, WFP has already revised its programmes, which it says could help in 18 countries. WFP says that the forecast indicates that the number of people who could face hunger this year could be about 1.3 million, with the most significant impact expected in the coming months.

The material also notes that WFP expects the situation to worsen due to the new crisis. In particular, it says that the agent could lead to a 1.1 million increase in the number of people at risk of hunger in 2024, but that the forecast is that the number could rise by up to 800,000 due to the worsening financial situation. It adds that the situation could become more severe as a result of the financial shortfall.

According to the material, global food production may be affected, as WFP says that El Niño could influence rainfall patterns in the coming months. It notes that the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing drought could lead to a worsening of the situation for millions of people.

Tags: Well-being/Weather/Research