Key facts
- The World Food Programme warns El Niño could push millions into acute hunger.
- An additional 50 million people may face acute hunger by the end of next year.
- El Niño is a developing weather system.
- Existing food insecurity is expected to be exacerbated.
- Potential conflict and weather-related crop losses are cited as additional pressures.
- Vulnerable regions are expected to be most affected.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning regarding the potential impact of the developing El Niño weather system. The agency forecasts that El Niño could push an additional 50 million people into a state of acute hunger by the end of next year. This projection exacerbates existing global food insecurity, with vulnerable regions expected to be disproportionately affected. The WFP cited a combination of factors contributing to this potential crisis, including weather-related crop losses and ongoing conflict in various parts of the world. These combined pressures are expected to strain food supplies and access for millions already facing precarious food situations.