The United Nations has announced it is prepared to release up to $100 million in emergency funding to help countries prepare for the anticipated impacts of a severe El Niño event, while renewing calls for early and flexible financing to reduce humanitarian risks.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said the organization stands ready to allocate the funds through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support anticipatory action before the climate phenomenon reaches its peak.
More than $20 million has already been committed to early response measures in six countries, Fletcher said, adding that the CERF Climate Action Account continues to invest in vulnerable communities to strengthen their resilience against future climate-related shocks.
The UN warned that El Niño is expected to trigger another wave of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and flooding, threatening communities across Latin America, Eastern and Southern Africa, as well as Asia and the Pacific.
Fletcher recalled that the previous El Niño episode left tens of millions of people in need of food, healthcare, agricultural support, and protection services, underscoring the importance of acting before disasters unfold.
He stressed that investing in early, flexible financing is both more effective and less costly than responding after a crisis has occurred.
The UN also urged the international community to step up efforts to resolve conflicts, support displaced populations, and strengthen global climate action to prevent humanitarian emergencies from worsening.
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