Archive · 6 Aug 2026
UN Warns Strong El Niño Could Push Millions into Hunger
There is an ocean in the Pacific that sometimes gets extra warm.
Scientists call this warming El Niño, and it can change weather all around the world.
It can cause droughts, meaning not enough rain, and floods in other places.
This can make it hard for farmers to grow food.
A group called the World Food Programme helps hungry people get food.
They looked at weather forecasts and think there is an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño.
If it happens, almost 49 million more people could become very hungry.
That would make about 274 million people without enough food.
Places like Central America and Southern Africa might be hurt the most.
The World Food Programme is asking governments to prepare so people can be helped before it gets worse.
The World Food Programme warned a powerful El Niño could push nearly 49 million more people into acute food insecurity by the end of next year.
There is an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño, with sea surface temperatures at their warmest levels since at least 1982 and potentially the strongest event since 1950.
Acute food insecurity could rise to 274 million people across 45 vulnerable countries, an increase of 22% over the baseline.
Central America and Southern Africa are expected to be hardest hit, with food-insecure populations projected to rise by 83% and nearly 75% respectively.
Funding cuts from U.S. and European donors have reduced WFP data collection, with surveys falling from about 1.1 million households in 2024 to about 800,000 in 2025.
- Who
- The World Food Programme (WFP), the UN agency, including directors Jean-Martin Bauer and Richard Choularton
- What
- Warned that a powerful El Niño could push nearly 49 million more people into acute food insecurity by the end of next year
- When
- Report released on Wednesday, with impacts projected by the end of next year
- Where
- Vulnerable regions worldwide, especially Central America and Southern Africa, as well as East Africa, the Sahel, the Caribbean, South America and South/Southeast Asia
- Why
- El Niño warms Pacific ocean surface temperatures and alters global weather patterns, causing drought, delayed monsoons and erratic rainfall
- Agency
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- Additional people at risk
- Nearly 49 million
- Projected total food-insecure
- 274 million people (22% increase)
- Chance of very strong El Niño
- 81%
- Vulnerable countries analyzed
- 45
- Central America projected increase
- 83%
- Southern Africa projected increase
- Nearly 75%
- WFP household surveys
- About 1.1 million (2024) vs 800,000 (2025)