WHAT IS EL NIÑO / LA NIÑA AND WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS?
• El Niño refers to a pattern of unusually warm water stretching across the surface of the Pacific Ocean. It typically occurs every 3-7 years.
• La Niña is characterized by lower-than-normal air pressure over the Western Pacific. These low-pressure zones can contribute to increased rainfall and flooding.
• During El Niño/La Niña events, the relationship between winds and ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean changes, modifying weather conditions around the world. El Niño leads to drought conditions in some regions and flooding in others.
• Changes in rainfall and temperature affect crop and pasture development, and can lead to outbreaks of climate specific diseases (e.g., yellow fever in Angola).
• The 2015-16 El Niño lasted 15 months and was one of the three strongest on record (since 1950). Humanitarian impacts will continue to be felt for several months and in many areas well into 2017.
• The World Meteorological Organization reports there is a 50-65% probability that La Niña will develop in the 3rd quarter of 2016, lasting through the remainder of 2016. (WMO July 29)
• About 60 million people face a lack of food because of El Niño globally, and without the necessary action the number of people affected by the combined impacts of the El Niño/La Niña could reach 100 million. Almost USD 4 billion is needed to meet the humanitarian demands. (WFP July 6)
• Southern Africa is suffering the driest cropping season in 35 years. The region faces a 9.3 million ton cereal shortfall and 643,000 drought-related livestock deaths have been reported in Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa,
Namibia and Zimbabwe. (SADC June 2016)