El Niño Threatens 49 Million More People With Acute Hunger

Pacific Ocean temperatures have climbed to levels unseen since 1982, signaling a weather shift that disrupts harvests through erratic rainfall, severe droughts, and flooding. Central America and Southern Africa stand at the epicenter of this crisis, with potential hunger increases of 83% and 75% respectively. Across South America, the Caribbean, and Southern Africa, each region may see over 12 million people plunged into food scarcity.

While global food supplies remain relatively stable following strong 2025 harvests, the WFP cautions that regional failures and Middle Eastern conflicts could trigger sharp price spikes. Compounding the threat is a significant contraction in humanitarian oversight. Household surveys dropped from 1.1 million in 2024 to 800,000 this year due to funding cuts from major U.S. and European donors, leaving the agency with a fractured view of emerging hunger hotspots. In response, the WFP has deployed cash support and emergency aid to 1.3 million people across 18 countries, attempting to build resilience before the peak of the climate impacts.