El Niño threatens hunger across Africa and beyond, aid groups prepare
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The World Food Programme (WFP) and partners are working with governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to lessen the impact of a strengthening El Niño weather pattern.
A potentially record-breaking El Niño is expected to bring drought, storms, and floods to many regions, possibly pushing nearly 50 million people into acute hunger. WFP is using an approach called “anticipatory action,” providing cash assistance, farming support, insurance, and early warnings to vulnerable communities before disasters strike.
In South Sudan, WFP distributed cash to 53,000 people in May, ahead of the anticipated drought, and triggered a national drought plan targeting nearly 66,000 more. Farmers like Lokitoe Lokale used the aid to buy food staples, supporting both their families and the local economy. Similar programs are underway in Chad, Malawi, and Madagascar, providing early warnings and financial assistance to offset projected increases in food insecurity.
WFP is also preparing for a mix of extreme weather in Pakistan, supporting the government’s first national anticipatory action strategy. In Central America’s Dry Corridor, the organization is providing grain silos and training to farmers in Guatemala and Honduras to preserve harvests during the expected drought. These initiatives rely on funding from donors including Austria, Germany, and Norway.
