The 2023/2024 El Niño episode has resulted in extreme weather patterns, impacting over 60 million people worldwide. Major issues include severe droughts in Southern Africa and flooding in Brazil and East Africa, leading to significant food insecurity and health risks. Urgent measures are required to support affected communities, particularly vulnerable populations.
The 2023/2024 El Niño phenomenon has been noted as one of the top five strongest episodes recorded, featuring temperature anomalies rising 2°C above the average in the Pacific Ocean. The World Weather Attribution report indicates that El Niño has been a predominant factor driving numerous extreme weather events observed from September 2023 to May 2024. These effects include severe drought conditions in regions such as Central America, Colombia, and several countries across Southern Africa and the Pacific, as well as significant flooding events impacting Brazil, East Africa, and parts of the Middle East.
The extreme climate conditions catalyzed by El Niño have adversely affected more than 60 million individuals, predominantly in vulnerable communities already grappling with the adverse impacts of climate change, conflict, and economic instability. Southern Africa faced dire consequences, with over 30 million people suffering from severe drought and subsequent food insecurity. Eastern Africa recorded mass displacements of communities due to flooding, while the Philippines experienced drought conditions affecting over four million people. Central America saw 1.3 million individuals affected, and Brazil suffered devastating floods that impacted over 2 million residents.
Accompanying these disruptions are rising incidences of diseases, such as cholera and malaria, especially in flood-hit areas. The unique challenges women and children face, including increased risks of poverty and gender-based violence, have been exacerbated by displacement and socio-economic stresses arising from El Niño’s widespread impact. These disturbances further destabilize already fragile livelihoods and social systems within the affected areas, indicating a crucial need for comprehensive intervention and support.
The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon characterized by periodic warming (El Niño) and cooling (La Niña) of ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific. This natural occurrence significantly influences global weather patterns, leading to extreme weather conditions. The latest El Niño episode, observed during 2023/2024, was intensified by already existing climatic disruptions, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected regions, particularly those grappling with socio-economic challenges and the effects of climate change. Since El Niño can trigger both droughts and floods, the full scope of its impact includes not only immediate weather-related damages but also long-lasting social and economic repercussions, highlighting the need for effective systemic responses.
In summary, the ongoing 2023/2024 El Niño episode is characterized as one of the strongest recorded, having triggered severe weather events such as droughts and floods, affecting over 60 million people globally. The compounded effects of this climate phenomenon result in significant challenges for vulnerable populations, who face food insecurity, heightened disease exposure, and increased protection risks. Addressing these challenges necessitates urgent action and targeted support to bolster resilience in the most affected communities.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
