The Agency Aims to Mitigate Extreme Weather Impacts Through Early Warning Systems and Preventive Aid, With a Budget of at Least $80 Million

The United Nations warned that the El Nino weather system could push 50 million more people into acute hunger in 2027, with the phenomenon expected to reach its strongest level in 70 years. The UN World Food Programme said on Aug. 5 that El Nino would add more than 20 percent to the 225 million people already facing acute food insecurity across 45 countries.

Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa are expected to be hit hardest, while South and Southeast Asia may see below-normal rainfall, triggering an agricultural crisis. In southern Africa, the main planting season runs from October 2026 to March 2027, with the worst effects felt during the post-harvest lean season. The UN report, the first to closely examine global hunger across 45 countries, noted that ongoing conflict in the Middle East is putting upward pressure on food prices.

The agency aims to mitigate extreme weather impacts through early warning systems and preventive aid, with a budget of at least $80 million. During the 2015-2016 El Nino, 60 to 100 million people were affected by acute food insecurity. Experts hope that despite potentially more severe weather this year, preventive measures will lessen the impact.