disaster
World: Statement on El Niño by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, 13 July 2026
By UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs at ReliefWeb
· July 13, 2026
· 2 min read
. El Niño is back. Extreme heat, droughts and floods are once again set to devastate communities across Latin America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The last El Niño in 2023-24 left tens of millions of people in need of food, nutrition, water, sanitation, health, agricultural su
Key takeaway The last El Niño in 2023-24 left tens of millions of people in need of food, nutrition, water, sanitation, health, agricultural support and protection.
Why this matters
The impending El Niño event poses a significant threat to vulnerable communities worldwide, particularly in Latin America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The humanitarian system, already strained by conflict, displacement, and funding cuts, will face considerable challenges in responding to the anticipated devastation. The allocation of $20 million for anticipatory action in six countries and the potential disbursement of up to $100 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) demonstrate a proactive approach to mitigating the effects of El Niño. However, the success of these efforts will depend on the ability of the humanitarian community to coordinate effectively and secure sufficient funding. The call for early, flexible financing and braver climate action highlights the need for a long-term, sustainable approach to addressing the root causes of vulnerability, rather than relying on short-term responses to disasters. Faith-based organizations and Christian charities, which often play a critical role in disaster relief and humanitarian response, will likely be impacted by the El Niño event and may need to adapt their strategies to address the growing needs of affected communities.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . El Niño is back. Extreme heat, droughts and floods are once again set to devastate communities across Latin America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The last El Niño in 2023-24 left tens of millions of people in need of food, nutrition, water, sanitation, health, agricultural su
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .