The 2023/2024 El Niño episode, one of the strongest on record, caused severe droughts and flooding worldwide. Over 60 million people were affected, with the harshest impacts noted in Southern Africa. The effects included food insecurity and disease outbreaks, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive action to support vulnerable communities.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) experienced its 2023/2024 El Niño phase as one of the most powerful episodes on record, with Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies reaching levels of 2°C above the average. This significant climatic event has been identified by the World Weather Attribution as the primary contributor to various extreme weather patterns from September 2023 to May 2024. Regions across the globe witnessed severe droughts, particularly in Central America, Colombia, and Southern Africa, while flooding affected Brazil, Dubai, and parts of East Africa, highlighting the widespread repercussions of this phenomenon.
Over 60 million individuals felt the repercussions of El Niño, with immense strains placed on vulnerable communities already grappling with the effects of climate change, conflict, and economic instability. Southern Africa reported the heaviest impacts, with more than 30 million people experiencing debilitating droughts that destroyed livelihoods and exacerbated food insecurity concerns. Eastern Africa faced widespread flooding that dislocated communities and undermined agricultural foundations, affecting upwards of 5 million individuals, while 4 million in the Philippines encountered severe drought conditions. Central America reported that 1.3 million people were affected, along with over 2 million residents in Brazil facing monumental flooding.
The implications of the El Niño phenomenon extended beyond immediate food shortages, as overlapping crises intensively worsened existing challenges for vulnerable populations. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria surged in flood-impacted areas, while increased protection risks, particularly for women and children, emerged due to displacement and poverty. The economic ramifications of these climatic disruptions also reverberated throughout affected regions, further destabilizing local livelihoods and social structures.
El Niño is a significant climatic occurrence characterized by warming sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. This phenomenon plays a critical role in shifting weather patterns globally, leading to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. Historically, strong El Niño episodes have been associated with widespread environmental and socio-economic challenges, significantly impacting vulnerable populations. Understanding the mechanisms and effects of El Niño is crucial for disaster preparedness and response strategies, especially in the context of compounding global issues like climate change and social inequity.
The 2023/2024 El Niño event illustrates the profound impact of climatic shifts on global weather patterns and, consequently, on human well-being. As observed, the combination of severe droughts and widespread flooding has left over 60 million people facing significant challenges, particularly in Southern and Eastern Africa. These events underline the necessity of addressing the broader context of climate change, conflict, and economic strife that amplifies vulnerabilities and risks across affected communities, necessitating comprehensive and coordinated action to mitigate future disasters.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
