World must look to the past to prepare for likely unprecedented El Niño

The world finds itself preparing for what may be the most powerful El Niño ever recorded, potentially shattering existing records. The World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and World Food Programme are among the international bodies cautioning nations to brace for severe weather conditions that could disrupt health, food, and energy systems globally.

Brazil has ramped up firefighting efforts to combat anticipated Amazon wildfires, while Peru has declared a state of emergency in 40% of its territory following devastating floods, landslides, and heavy rains reminiscent of past El Niño events. Sri Lanka has dispatched water supplies to approximately 72,000 individuals across seven drought-affected districts, and India is focusing on 300 drought-prone districts by implementing agricultural contingency plans and boosting irrigation resources.

The African Union is urging its member states to establish early-warning systems to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and economies in the months ahead. A severe drought during the 2015 El Niño triggered a humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, affecting over 10 million people. In this context, the European Union and Oxfam, a non-governmental organization, are delivering urgently needed water via a tanker truck.

Despite these preparedness measures, many countries remain unready. The WFP has launched an urgent $202 million El Niño Joint Anticipatory Action Appeal to assist 22 high-risk nations with safety measures. Climate experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of El Niño events, emphasizing the urgent need for global preparedness.