AU calls for increased preparedness for upcoming El Nino events

ADDIS ABABA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission has called on its members to step up preparedness for the expected 2026/2027 El Nino events, which could trigger droughts, floods, food insecurity and economic losses across Africa.

AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati made the call on Thursday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, while opening the extraordinary session of a specialized technical committee regarding the weather pattern.

"2026/2027 El Nino event is projected to be the strongest since 1950. This is not a distant possibility. It is an imminent risk that demands immediate preparation at national, regional and continental levels," Vilakati said.

He said many regions of the continent are likely to experience severe droughts, devastating floods, prolonged heat-waves, and disruptions to food production, water shortages, disease outbreaks and increased humanitarian needs.

"These impacts will not only affect vulnerable households; they will also place considerable pressure on national economies, public finances and regional stability. This is neither speculative nor unprecedented. We have already witnessed the devastating consequences of delayed action," he warned.

The commissioner recalled that the 2023/2024 El Nino season caused harsh impacts on Africa, affecting millions with severe droughts, devastating floods and destroyed infrastructure.

"What we need now is decisive and coordinated action. The difference between a manageable crisis and a humanitarian disaster will be determined by what we do before the impacts arrive," he said. ■