UN Agencies Warn of Unprecedented El Niño Event and Call for Urgent Humanitarian Funding

United Nations agencies have issued an urgent appeal for global action and funding to protect vulnerable communities from an impending El Niño event projected to peak in late 2026 with unprecedented intensity. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the phenomenon could produce sea surface temperature anomalies off the charts of historical monitoring records.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that the latest Global Seasonal Climate Update forecasts tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures could rise up to 3.8℃ above average between November 2026 and January 2027. While a 0.5℃ anomaly triggers an El Niño alert, Saulo emphasized that a 3.8℃ rise is beyond existing statistics and past records. She noted that previous events with 3℃ anomalies caused substantial global impacts and warned that extreme weather events are expected to multiply as conditions intensify.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that the weather phenomenon could cause widespread extreme heat, droughts, and floods across Latin America, eastern and southern Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Fletcher stated that approximately 50 million people could experience increased hunger. He also cited an African Development Bank estimate projecting the event could cost African nations between $10 billion and $20 billion, reducing gross domestic product by 1 to 2 percent.

To initiate early preparedness and response efforts, Fletcher announced the release of more than $50 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. The funding is designated for 11 frontline countries, including Chad, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.

According to UN officials, critical immediate priorities include securing emergency funding and supplies in East Africa before expected heavy rains, distributing seeds and protecting livestock in southern Africa, and supporting livelihoods in Central America. Relief operations face additional logistical strain due to global supply chain disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.

UN agencies are also undertaking preventative measures in multiple regions. Initiatives include mud and debris barriers constructed with the UN Development Programme in Chile, cyclone resilience strategies in Madagascar, shelter roadmaps in Nigeria, and flood diversion infrastructure developed with partner agencies in Yemen.

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