El Niño could push 50 million into hunger by end of 2027, UN warns

The rapidly intensifying El Niño weather phenomenon could push around 50 million additional people into acute hunger before the end of 2027, worsening an already severe global food crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

The projected increase would come on top of the 225 million people in 45 countries already facing acute food insecurity, driven by prolonged drought in parts of Africa and higher food prices linked to the war in Iran, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

Even if El Niño proves less severe than some forecasts suggest, the WFP said it is still expected to push many vulnerable countries beyond their limits.

According to the agency's analysis, Central and South America, the Caribbean and southern Africa are likely to be hardest hit. South and Southeast Asia are also expected to receive below-average rainfall, threatening agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods.

El Niño, a recurring climate pattern originating in the Pacific Ocean, alters global rainfall and temperature patterns. This year's event is expected to be the strongest in at least 70 years, with scientists warning that its impacts are being amplified by climate change.

Experts have also said a strong El Niño, combined with global warming, could contribute to record global temperatures in 2027.

The WFP said it is investing at least $80 million in early warning systems and anticipatory humanitarian assistance to reduce the impact of extreme weather. However, it warned that the consequences could be long-lasting, as farmers may take more than one growing season to recover from crop losses.

In southern Africa, where the main growing season runs from October 2026 to March 2027, the most severe food shortages are expected during the 2027–2028 lean season, according to Richard Choularton, director of the WFP's Climate and Resilience Service.

Jean-Martin Bauer, the WFP's director of food security, noted that food prices remained relatively favourable at the end of 2025, although they have come under upward pressure due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The WFP confirmed that the effects could extend beyond the 45 countries covered in its assessment, with global food prices also likely to face renewed pressure. Bauer urged major food-exporting nations to avoid imposing export restrictions, warning that such measures could further limit food access and drive up prices.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov