According to the UN food agency, a strong El Niño could push an additional 49 million people into acute hunger. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Reuters.
El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by warming of ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, which affects global weather patterns and can cause droughts, floods, and other natural disasters. The UN agency's forecast indicates that this phenomenon poses a significant threat to food security, particularly affecting populations in vulnerable regions.
The agency emphasized the need for urgent measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In countries affected by El Niño, rising food prices and declining agricultural productivity are expected, which could further exacerbate hunger levels.
The UN agency calls on the international community to prepare for this situation and strengthen preventive measures. Experts warn that the effects of El Niño will become evident in the coming months.