United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said West and Central Africa are at risk of food insecurity projected to worsen by 12 per cent, affecting nearly six million additional people as a result of climate-driven shocks.

The UN agency noted that the strengthening El Niño weather pattern is set to significantly worsen food insecurity in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries into the year 2027.

In its latest global analysis of the humanitarian impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño, WFP revealed that climate-driven shocks could significantly worsen food insecurity in 45 countries across the world. However, the agency said it was ramping up its preparedness and response efforts as impacts from El Niño are already hitting the most vulnerable on the frontlines of hunger.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. Such weather events often disrupt global weather patterns, causing droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, and crop failures across different regions of the world.

WFP said El Niño is expected to peak between September and December 2026, but its impact was likely to extend throughout 2027 because of disruptions to future planting and harvest cycles.

It cautioned that drought, flooding, and extreme heat were already threatening livelihoods and increasing the risk of hunger across vulnerable communities.

The agency said early intervention would be critical in reducing the humanitarian impact of the climate event.

WFP’s Acting Executive Director, Carl Skau, said: “El Niño is a massive threat to the food security of millions who are already vulnerable. The sooner we help families to prepare for these climate shocks, the greater our ability to save lives and protect livelihoods.”

The analysis focused on 45 countries already considered food insecure, and where El Niño would significantly influence rainfall patterns, temperatures and the occurrence of floods and droughts.

Across these countries, the total number of acutely food insecure people (families that are unable to meet their daily food needs) would rise from approximately 225 million to 274 million people: an increase of approximately 22 per cent.

The largest impacts are expected in parts of Central America and southern Africa, with significant effects also anticipated in eastern Africa and South and Southeast Asia.

WFP expects that countries already grappling with poverty, conflict, economic instability and repeated weather extremes will likely bear the brunt of El Niño, and that its impact will not be experienced uniformly.

Expectedly, some countries are already experiencing below-average rainfall, flooding, and unusually hot temperatures, while others are expected to face deteriorating conditions during upcoming planting seasons and harvests.