UN food agencies on Thursday appealed for $202 million to shield 8.8 million people across 22 high-risk nations from the devastating impacts of the looming El Niño weather pattern.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that strong El Niño conditions in the second half of 2026 are expected to trigger severe droughts, floods, and storms across parts of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
The requested funds will allow the agencies to vastly expand their support beyond the 1.2 million people currently targeted, delivering cash transfers, climate-resilient seeds, livestock protection, and flood defenses.
Among the 22 most vulnerable countries identified are Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Colombia, and Haiti.
The appeal comes just a week after the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the official arrival of El Niño, noting a 63 percent probability that it could intensify into a “super El Niño” heading into 2027.
