By Muhammad Amaan
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the anticipated health and humanitarian impacts of a developing strong El Niño as a Grade Three emergency.
It warned that flooding and drought could worsen disease outbreaks, food insecurity and malnutrition.
Dr Patrick Otim, Programme Area Manager, Emergency Response, WHO African Region, disclosed this on Wednesday during an online briefing, saying the climate phenomenon was expected to intensify from late 2026 and continue into 2027.
He said 18 countries in the African region had been identified as facing high or very high risks from the anticipated impacts, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda.
Dr Otim said Zambia and Zimbabwe were also among countries facing high or very high risks, adding that the expected health consequences would differ depending on geographical location, climate conditions and existing humanitarian vulnerabilities.
According to him, eastern and central Africa are expected to face increased flooding, creating favourable conditions for cholera and other waterborne diseases, while malaria, dengue, yellow fever and Rift Valley fever could also increase.
Otim said southern Africa was expected to experience severe drought, potentially worsening food insecurity, malnutrition and limited access to safe water, particularly among women, children, displaced populations and people living with chronic conditions.
He said the projected risks were emerging in countries already affected by conflict, displacement, concurrent disease outbreaks and hunger, thereby increasing the potential consequences of climate-related shocks on vulnerable populations.
The WHO official said 48.5 million people in eastern Africa currently required humanitarian assistance, while more than 40 million faced acute food insecurity and 8.3 million children were acutely malnourished.
He added that another 13.3 million people across southern Africa were experiencing acute food insecurity, while more than 637,000 children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Otim said the projected health consequences were not inevitable because advance climate forecasts provided countries with a critical opportunity to strengthen preparedness before severe weather conditions and their associated health impacts intensified.
He said WHO was supporting countries to translate climate forecasts into concrete public-health measures, including strengthening surveillance and early-warning systems, identifying high-risk communities and updating emergency contingency plans.
According to him, countries were also being encouraged to pre-position medicines, diagnostics and other emergency supplies in locations where they would be required most urgently during climate-related emergencies.
Otim said WHO was working with ministries of health, meteorological services, disaster-management agencies, humanitarian organisations and communities to ensure that early warnings were converted into timely actions that could protect vulnerable populations.
He said communities needed clear and practical information about climate-sensitive diseases, warning signs and appropriate points of care, adding that effective communication would be essential as the anticipated climate risks developed.
The WHO official said the organisation was establishing a dedicated incident-management team to coordinate preparedness across high-risk countries, while about 2.2 million dollars was urgently required for immediate response priorities.
He said the funding would support surveillance, essential health and nutrition services, emergency supplies, technical assistance and rapid-response deployments, adding that preparing early would help reduce the health impact of El Niño and save lives.
