El Niño Forecasts Heavy Rain, Heightening Food Insecurity in East and South Africa

The World Meteorological Organization reports that El Niño warming is already underway and is expected to persist through February 2027, peaking in December. Regional forecasters give a 90 % chance of heavier‑than‑usual rainfall in southern Ethiopia, central‑to‑southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya between October and December 2026. Such excess precipitation could trigger flooding, destroy crops, spread disease and limit access to health services, depending on local conditions. Meanwhile, Action Against Hunger notes that families in southern Madagascar are experiencing early food shortages after a poor harvest season, with aid teams treating malnourished children amid cuts that make assistance harder to obtain. UNICEF reports that 205 health and nutrition facilities in Somalia have closed because of funding cuts, forcing families to travel farther for care.