WFP warns El Nino could push 49M into acute hunger by end of 2027

The UN World Food Programme warned Wednesday that intensifying El Nino conditions could force at least 49 million additional people into acute food insecurity by the end of 2027, driving global hunger figures up by nearly a quarter across vulnerable nations.

Global projections

WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau said in a statement that the weather phenomenon is expected to significantly worsen food insecurity across 45 countries already struggling with hunger, increasing the number of acutely food-insecure people from roughly 225 million to 274 million. "El Nino is a massive threat to the food security of millions who are already vulnerable," Skau said, noting that severe floods, droughts and extreme temperatures could rapidly push communities from coping to crisis.

Regional breakdown

The agency projected that El Nino will peak between September and December 2026, though its disruptive effects on agriculture are likely to persist throughout 2027 by damaging future harvests. Latin America and the Caribbean could see "one of the sharpest rises" in food insecurity, affecting more than 16 million people, while East and Southern Africa could see deterioration for over 18 million people, according to the analysis. An additional 8.2 million people will face acute food insecurity in Asia and the Pacific, while West and Central Africa could see food insecurity rise by 12% — affecting nearly 6 million more people.

Anticipatory action

Since May, WFP has activated anticipatory action plans in six countries — South Sudan, Chad, Mauritania, Uganda, Guatemala and El Salvador — providing more than $14 million in assistance to around 500,000 people. The agency emphasized that investing in preparedness can save between $3 and $7 in future losses and response costs for every dollar spent, underscoring the value of early intervention before crises escalate.