The World Food Programme projects the strengthening El Niño will drive nearly 49 million additional people into acute hunger by the end of 2027, raising the global total of food-insecure people to roughly 274 million from 225 million, after scientists warned of a potentially record-breaking Pacific warming event.
The assessment examined 45 countries already facing food instability and found Central America and southern Africa will bear the heaviest impacts, with significant deterioration also expected in East Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. In Africa alone, at least 24 million people could be affected. Acting WFP Executive Director Carl Skau called the phenomenon a grave threat to millions of already vulnerable people, as droughts and conflict-driven food price pressures compound the crisis.
The weather pattern is expected to peak between September and December, potentially becoming the strongest El Niño in 70 years. The WFP and FAO have called for increased support and already deployed more than $14 million in anticipatory aid to half a million people across Chad, Mauritania, South Sudan, Uganda, El Salvador and Guatemala.