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MOGADISHU – The United Nations has warned that countries in the Horn of Africa may face increasing climate impacts in the coming months amid expectations of a strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon. It called on regional governments to raise their level of preparedness and take proactive measures to mitigate its potential effects on food security, water resources, and livelihoods, at a time of growing concern over the expansion of extreme weather events.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated that the latest climate forecasts indicate a possible intensification of the phenomenon between July and September. This may lead to notable changes in weather patterns, including heavy rainfall and flooding in some areas, and drought or reduced rainfall in others, in addition to rising temperatures. This underscores the need for early preparedness to reduce human and economic losses.
The United Nations stressed that the Horn of Africa is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, due to the heavy reliance of large segments of the population on agriculture and pastoralism, alongside ongoing humanitarian and economic challenges. This increases the vulnerability of local communities to recurring climate shocks and places additional pressure on essential resources and services.
The organization called for strengthening early warning systems, improving climate monitoring and forecasting services, increasing investment in climate adaptation programmes, and expanding cooperation between regional governments and international partners, in order to enhance preparedness and reduce the impact of natural disasters before they occur.
The World Meteorological Organization noted that the El Niño phenomenon results from an unusual rise in sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. However, its impacts extend to large parts of the world through changes in wind patterns, rainfall, and temperature, making it one of the most influential climate phenomena affecting economic and human activities globally.
The Horn of Africa is among the most climate-affected regions in the world, where droughts, floods, rising temperatures, poverty, conflict, and displacement intersect, increasing the vulnerability of millions of people. In recent decades, El Niño has been associated with some of the worst climate disasters in the region, contributing to reduced agricultural production, large-scale livestock losses, and rising food insecurity. In light of accelerating global climate change, the United Nations emphasizes that investment in early warning systems, strengthening adaptive capacity, and expanding regional and international cooperation are key pillars for reducing climate risks, supporting sustainable development, and building more resilient societies in the Horn of Africa.
