Millions of children in Latin America at risk from El Nino, says Unicef

Unicef has cautioned that millions of children in Latin America are facing grave risks due to severe droughts and flooding caused by a powerful El Nino event. This naturally occurring climate variation warms surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, altering wind and rain patterns across the globe. This year's El Nino is expected to be the strongest on record. The UN agency estimated that 25.8 million Latin American children, equivalent to one in seven, are at risk from these climate-related disasters.

Roberto Benes, Unicef's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted that the impact of these disasters threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities and push even more children into vulnerability. Drought conditions in Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua are reducing crop yields and increasing the risk of malnutrition, especially for children already struggling to access food and safe water.

In Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela, the threat of wildfires looms, while dwindling river levels in the Amazon basin could isolate river-side communities.

On the Pacific coast of Mexico and South America, increased rainfall is expected to heighten the risk of flooding and damage to essential infrastructure such as schools and healthcare facilities. Benes also emphasized the additional misery for Cuba and Haiti, which are currently experiencing an intense Pacific hurricane season. One major storm can cause widespread destruction and disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

As of June 30, Unicef had raised only half of the $53.8 million requested to respond to El Nino emergencies in Latin America. The agency, like other UN organizations, has faced significant funding cuts following the election of US President Donald Trump.