UN Warns of Severe Climate Disruptions as El Nino Intensifies
The United Nations warns that the current El Nino phenomenon could intensify, triggering widespread climate disruptions and increasing hunger risks for 50 million people, Qatar's state news agency QNA reported.
The El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to peak towards the end of 2026, with its effects potentially lasting for an extended period, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Thursday.
The World Meteorological Organization and the UN's humanitarian arm have called for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of El Nino, which include droughts, floods, and heatwaves.
The UN has allocated over $50 million to support 11 countries at risk, including Chad, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.
UN's humanitarian aid chief, Tom Fletcher, emphasized the importance of delivering aid before disasters strike and supporting farmers and herders to protect their livelihoods.
The World Meteorological Organization warned that El Nino's impacts will vary across regions, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to some areas while increasing drought, water shortages, and agricultural losses in others.
El Nino is a complex weather pattern that can have devastating effects on global food security, particularly in vulnerable communities. According to the UN, 50 million people are at risk of hunger due to the impacts of El Nino.
The UN's efforts to mitigate the effects of El Nino are part of a broader response to the global climate crisis.
The organization is working to support countries in building resilience to climate-related disasters and promoting sustainable development.
El Nino and La Nina are two phases of a natural climate pattern called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which affects global weather patterns.
El Nino events tend to occur every 2-7 years and can have significant impacts on global food security, particularly in vulnerable communities.