The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a stark warning that around 282 million people globally are facing "acute hunger" due to the adverse effects of the recurring La Niña climate phenomenon.
La Niña typically brings unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Pacific, which often lead to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, and heavy rainfall.
During a press conference, Dominique Burgeon, head of FAO’s Geneva office, stated that the number of those affected by hunger is likely to increase.
According to the latest climate forecasts released in September, there is a 71% chance of La Niña developing between September and November 2024, with the conditions expected to persist from January to March 2025.
Long-range forecasts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) suggest a 55% likelihood that La Niña will continue during this period.
This follows the impact of one of the strongest El Niño events recorded in 2023-2024, a climate phenomenon known for increasing global temperatures and disrupting rainfall patterns across continents.
Regions such as southern Africa experienced severe drought, while the Horn of Africa was hit by intense flooding after years of drought.
The report highlights that La Niña has already caused extreme weather, including droughts, heatwaves, and floods, affecting over 60 million people worldwide.
These conditions have been a key driver of food insecurity over the past month. The FAO warns that as regions continue to grapple with the fallout, the looming La Niña threatens to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
This clash of extreme weather events could reverse years of developmental progress, driving food prices higher and worsening food insecurity and malnutrition. "As affected areas struggle to cope with the impacts, the upcoming La Niña poses an imminent threat," the FAO report stressed.
The organization pointed out that these climate disasters reveal the fragility of many areas when extreme weather hits, causing people to lose their homes, livelihoods, and sometimes their lives.
The agricultural systems, which are particularly sensitive to climate shifts, may face long-lasting impacts, including soil degradation and water resource depletion. With disrupted planting seasons, lower crop yields, and livestock losses, millions could be pushed further into hunger and poverty.
La Niña is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs every 4-12 years, characterized by cooling of surface ocean waters. This generates warm water masses and currents in tropical areas, triggering significant weather changes globally.
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