People walk across a dry, cracked section of land beside a shrinking water body, illustrating the effects of drought and changing water conditions. Photo: Africa News

NNA News - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is calling for more funding to help countries prepare for the growing risks associated with El Niño, as conflict, food insecurity and rising prices continue to place pressure on communities across the Horn of Africa.

Rein Paulsen, director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience, said governments had begun preparing response measures but that limited funding could prevent those plans from being implemented. He made the remarks in Nairobi after a fact-finding mission to Sudan.

“Plans are in place, and actions are already being taken, but we need more financing and support to deliver,” Paulsen told journalists on Friday.

FAO’s Sudan emergency and resilience portfolio for 2026 to 2028 is seeking US$193 million. The organisation had received US$44.1 million by Friday, leaving a substantial gap in funding for agricultural and livelihood support. FAO confirmed the figures in its latest Sudan response update.

Paulsen said the potential effects of El Niño should be considered alongside the region’s existing challenges rather than treated as a separate crisis. Conflict, displacement, food insecurity and high food prices are already affecting communities and agricultural production.

FAO and the World Food Programme launched a joint anticipatory action appeal in June seeking US$202 million to protect 8.8 million people in 22 high-risk countries from potential climate-related shocks associated with El Niño. The agencies said the funding would allow them to expand early action to communities facing risks to food security, livelihoods and agricultural production.

“It is always more expensive to respond to a crisis than to mitigate its impact in advance,” Paulsen said.

He called for governments, humanitarian organisations and development partners to strengthen monitoring and take action before climate shocks intensify.

In Sudan, FAO is supporting farmers and livestock owners through a combination of emergency assistance and longer-term measures. These include the distribution of crop seeds, irrigation support, livestock vaccination, animal feed and water supplies.

The agency launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign this week targeting 9.8 million animals and 1.2 million livestock-owning households. FAO said the campaign is intended to protect productive assets and livelihoods amid the continuing conflict.

The wider climate outlook has increased the urgency of those preparations. The World Meteorological Organization said earlier this month that El Niño was expected to strengthen to a very strong event towards the end of the year.

WMO forecasts show a nearly 100 percent likelihood that the phenomenon will persist through February 2027. The organisation has warned that a very strong El Niño can alter rainfall and temperature patterns and increase the risk of drought, flooding and extreme heat, although the effects vary between regions and seasons.

FAO and WFP have therefore emphasised anticipatory action, with the aim of getting assistance to vulnerable communities before extreme weather affects crops, livestock and food supplies.