El Nino threatens hunger for 49 million as aid funding falls short

A powerful El Nino developing in the Pacific could push an additional 49 million people into hunger globally, with Africa and Asia expected to be hardest hit. The event is already unusually strong and may become the strongest ever recorded. Sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are about 2.6C above normal, potentially reaching 4C by November. This could cause heavy rain and flooding in East Africa, worsening drought in southern Africa, weak monsoon rains in India, and major wildfires in Indonesia. The World Food Programme needs about $13 billion this year but expects only half, while Britain is cutting bilateral aid to eight African countries by over 80%. Even the UK faces a wetter, stormier winter and potential food price impacts, as a quarter of its imports come from exposed regions.