El Niño's looming threat: SADC urges proactive measures for climate-related shocks

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has issued a stark warning about the impending threat of a severe El Niño event during the 2026/27 season. Executive Secretary Elias Magosi stated that this event could surpass the intensity and impact of the 2023/24 disaster. Addressing the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Durban, Magosi emphasized the urgent need for the region to bolster its preparedness as climate-related disasters continue to pose significant threats to communities, infrastructure, food security, and economic growth.

Earlier this year, devastating floods caused loss of life, damage to critical infrastructure, displacement of people, and disruptions to trade across parts of the region. Magosi warned that the looming El Niño could further exacerbate food and nutrition insecurity, while simultaneously driving up the costs of fertilizers and energy. These interconnected shocks could undermine hard-fought development gains, hinder regional integration, industrialization, and inclusive economic growth.

Magosi stressed that the region cannot afford to rely solely on reacting to disasters once they have occurred. Instead, there is a pressing need to invest in resilience-building measures. These include strengthening early warning systems, anticipatory planning and action, constructing climate-resilient infrastructure, establishing robust disaster risk financing mechanisms, and promoting resilient recovery efforts.

He highlighted that stronger early warning systems and anticipatory planning would enable governments and regional bodies to prepare for potential emergencies before they escalate.

Furthermore, Magosi stressed the importance of developing infrastructure capable of withstanding climate-related shocks. He also underscored the necessity of financing mechanisms that could support countries during disasters and the subsequent recovery phase. The SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre in Nacala, Mozambique, was identified as a crucial component of the region's response capacity.

Magosi emphasized that adequate financial and human resources must be allocated to ensure the Centre can effectively coordinate contingency planning, emergency response, and recovery efforts in a timely manner.