A new alert has been issued as global climate challenges escalate, especially in areas where food systems are already vulnerable and humanitarian crises are recurring. Recent findings released on Thursday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicate that the impacts of climate change have intensified across Africa in 2025. The WMO’s latest report, “State of the Climate in Africa 2025,” reveals that extreme weather and climate-related incidents affected over 13 million individuals and resulted in more than 3,000 documented fatalities across the continent last year.
In terms of hazards, flooding was the most commonly reported issue, accounting for over half of the weather-related events. In Nigeria, severe flooding in May claimed over 200 lives, while flooding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in April resulted in more than 160 deaths. Additionally, drought conditions continue to exacerbate difficulties in various regions of East Africa.
Africa is experiencing a rate of warming that surpasses the global average, with glacier retreat accelerating and sea levels along certain coastlines rising faster than the global trend since 1999. Notably, ice coverage on Mount Kilimanjaro has decreased from 11.4 square kilometers in 1900 to under one square kilometer in recent years. Climate experts caution that these changes are leading to more frequent and severe weather events, reducing the time available for preparedness and adaptation.
In light of these developments, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have alerted that a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern is anticipated to escalate through late 2026 and into the following year, potentially triggering further climate-related disruptions. The alterations in rainfall patterns linked to El Niño are likely to cause droughts in certain areas while leading to severe flooding in others, endangering crops, livestock, water resources, and food production across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The agencies emphasized that without prompt action, millions more could face heightened food insecurity and loss of livelihoods.
To address these challenges, FAO and WFP have initiated their first Joint Anticipatory Action Appeal, aiming to raise $202 million to assist nearly 8.8 million individuals in preparing for the anticipated impacts of El Niño. This appeal focuses on proactive measures, providing support before disasters occur rather than responding after crises have developed. Planned interventions include cash assistance, the distribution of drought- and flood-resistant seeds, measures for livestock protection, water storage solutions, early warning systems, and climate advisories tailored to local contexts.
Current systems are already prepared to assist about 1.2 million people expected to be impacted by El Niño, but additional funding would enable a rapid expansion of operations to reach another 7.6 million individuals across 22 prioritized countries.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stated that past experiences have demonstrated that preemptive action is more effective and economical than emergency responses following disasters. Meanwhile, WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau highlighted the urgency of the situation, indicating that the international community has a limited timeframe to avert another significant food crisis. “We now possess the tools to anticipate these events; the key is how we choose to act,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of swift action to protect families before they lose their livelihoods. The agencies pointed out that the timing of the funding appeal is particularly challenging for humanitarian operations globally, as needs continue to escalate while aid budgets face increasing strain.
