UN official urges more funding as El Nino threat looms over Horn of Africa

A senior UN official has called for more funding and coordinated action to address the worsening crisis in the Horn of Africa, as the region also faces the threat of a strong El Nino. FAO official Rein Paulsen said governments already have response plans, but a lack of funding is making it difficult to put them into action. For Sudan alone, FAO has received only $44.1 million of the $193 million requested for its 2026–2028 emergency and resilience plan.

Paulsen said El Nino should be considered alongside ongoing conflicts and rising food prices, which are already putting pressure on vulnerable communities. FAO and the World Food Program have launched a joint plan seeking $202 million to protect 8.8 million people in 22 high-risk countries from extreme weather. In Sudan, FAO is also helping farmers use drought-resistant seeds, expand irrigation, vaccinate livestock and secure food and water supplies. The World Meteorological Organization expects El Nino to strengthen significantly toward the end of 2026 and continue into early 2027.

Source: CGTN