A powerful El Niño weather event could push nearly 49 million additional people into acute food insecurity across some of the world's most vulnerable regions by the end of next year, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday. The agency said the expected impact of the climate phenomenon could worsen hunger levels in countries already facing economic challenges, conflict and climate-related disasters. According to a WFP report, there is an 81 per cent chance of a very strong El Niño event, with ocean surface temperatures reaching their highest levels since at least 1982.

The agency said the developing weather pattern could become one of the strongest El Niño events recorded since 1950, raising concerns over its impact on agricultural production, water availability and food supplies worldwide. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon caused by periodic warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean. It disrupts normal weather patterns across the globe and can influence rainfall, temperatures and seasonal cycles. The phenomenon is often linked with drought conditions in parts of Southern Africa, delayed monsoons in sections of Asia and unpredictable rainfall patterns in other regions.

The WFP warned that such disruptions could have serious consequences for communities that depend heavily on agriculture and are already struggling with food shortages. "These are events that in the past have triggered large-scale hunger," Jean-Martin Bauer, director of WFP's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, told reporters while discussing the potential impact of the climate event. The UN agency's assessment was based on an analysis of 45 countries considered highly vulnerable to the effects of El Niño. The report estimated that the number of people facing acute food insecurity could rise by nearly 49 million, bringing the total number of people at risk to around 274 million.

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This represents an increase of approximately 22 per cent compared with the baseline population already experiencing crisis-level hunger or worse. Agricultural communities are expected to face some of the greatest challenges as changing weather conditions affect crop production and livestock. Reduced rainfall, prolonged droughts and extreme weather events can damage harvests, increase food prices and limit access to essential resources. For countries already dealing with poverty, conflict or weak food systems, even moderate climate shocks can have severe consequences. The WFP has repeatedly warned that climate-related disasters are becoming a major driver of global hunger.

Extreme weather events, along with conflicts and economic instability, have contributed to rising food insecurity in several regions. The agency said early preparation, increased monitoring and timely humanitarian support would be essential to reducing the impact of the expected El Niño conditions. Governments and international organisations are being urged to strengthen emergency planning, improve agricultural resilience and provide assistance to vulnerable communities before the effects of the weather event become severe.  Measures such as drought-resistant crops, improved water management and stronger food supply systems could help reduce the impact on populations dependent on farming.

The warning comes as the world continues to experience the effects of climate change, which experts say is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. While El Niño itself is a naturally occurring phenomenon, scientists have noted that its effects can become more damaging when combined with existing environmental and economic pressures. The WFP said continued monitoring of global weather patterns will be critical in assessing the full impact of the event. With millions of people already facing hunger, the agency stressed that early action and international cooperation will be necessary to prevent a further worsening of the global food security crisis.

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