The Global Impact of the 2023/2024 El Niño Episode: A Humanitarian Perspective

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The 2023/2024 El Niño event has been one of the strongest recorded, significantly impacting global weather patterns. Over 60 million people have been affected by extreme weather events, including severe droughts and floods, particularly in regions of Africa, the Philippines, and Central America. The situation has exacerbated vulnerabilities, leading to heightened food insecurity, economic disruption, and increased disease outbreaks, especially in marginalized communities.

The 2023/2024 El Niño event, classified among the five strongest recorded, has exhibited temperature anomalies exceeding 2°C above average in the Pacific Ocean. According to the World Weather Attribution, this phenomenon has been a significant contributor to various extreme weather events experienced between September 2023 and May 2024. It has led to devastating droughts across Central America, Colombia, various regions in southern Africa, and several Pacific islands, while simultaneously causing severe flooding in Brazil, Dubai, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and East Africa.

Over 60 million individuals have been impacted, with the most vulnerable communities disproportionately affected due to pre-existing complications from climate change, conflict, and socio-economic strains. Southern Africa, in particular, has faced the heaviest consequences, with 30 million people suffering from severe drought conditions, resulting in acute food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. In Eastern Africa, flooding has adversely affected 5 million people, displacing them and destroying their means of subsistence. The Philippines has also witnessed over 4 million individuals grappling with drought.

Economic disruptions have permeated the affected regions, aggravating existing vulnerabilities and destabilizing community infrastructures. These disruptions have been compounded by overlapping crises, including heightened disease outbreaks—cholera and malaria—especially in flood-stricken areas, coupled with increased protection risks for women and children who are often the most adversely affected by displacement and violence related to poverty. This ongoing crisis highlights the extensive and multi-faceted impacts of the current El Niño episode.

El Niño is a significant climate pattern within the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), characterized by the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It has profound implications for global weather, often leading to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. The current episode has been closely monitored due to its intensity and the widespread impact it has on vulnerable populations across the globe, particularly in regions already facing socioeconomic challenges. Understanding the intricacies of these climatic phenomena is crucial for predicting their consequences and implementing effective preventive measures.

In summarizing the extensive impact of the current El Niño event from 2023 to 2024, it is evident that this climatic phenomenon has resulted in significant humanitarian crises globally. With over 60 million individuals affected, particularly in Southern and Eastern Africa, the implications extend beyond immediate weather conditions, influencing food security, health, and socio-economic stability. Urgent attention and strategic intervention are essential to mitigate the ongoing consequences and to support the affected communities adequately.

Original Source: reliefweb.int

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