NAIROBI: The UN has received just one-fifth of the $202 million requested to prepare for food crises caused by El Nino in 22 high-risk countries, a top official said on Friday.

The natural El Nino warming phenomenon, due to peak between October and December, is on course to be the strongest on record, amplifying the effects of human-induced climate change.

The expected droughts and flooding are likely to hit hardest in many countries already struggling with severe food insecurity.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) requested $202m in June to support nearly nine million people in these countries.

But they have received only around $40m, Rein Paulsen, director of emergencies and resilience at the FAO, said in Nairobi.

“We have early warnings. We understand what’s required... (but) funding is a very real challenge that’s limiting our ability to do what we know can mitigate and minimise the impact of either flooding or droughts,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2026