FAO warns of lack of funds to assist millions of people due to El Niño phenomenon

Published at: 26/09/2026 08:33 AM

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned that there is a lack of funds to assist millions of people in the face of the El Niño phenomenon, after the UN raised about 40 million dollars of the 202 million required to support nearly nine million people in 22 countries vulnerable to droughts and floods.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and FAO requested the resources in June. Rein Paulsen, Director of Emergencies and Resilience at FAO, indicated that the lack of funding reduces the capacity to implement measures to reduce the negative effects of the phenomenon, international media reported.

The period of greatest intensity of El Niño is expected between October and December. FAO warned that it could be among the strongest episodes recorded and aggravate the effects associated with climate change, with the greatest risk for countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Somalia, around six million people are already facing critical levels of hunger and more than 700,000 have been displaced during the year, largely due to drought, according to data provided by the agency.

Mazo News Team