United Nations: Latin America and the Caribbean faces increased food insecurity risks due to El Niño

At a high-level roundtable, the agencies discussed early action measures, preparedness, and resilience-building efforts to address extreme climate events. Despite progress made in recent years, more than 33 million people still suffer from hunger, 167 million face moderate or severe food insecurity, and over 181 million cannot afford a healthy diet in the region. In addition, the Americas account for 22 percent of global agricultural disaster losses, estimated at USD 713 billion.

El Niño could push more families into vulnerability by triggering drought conditions in Central America’s Dry Corridor and disrupting rainfall and temperature patterns across the region. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) estimates the probability of this phenomenon at between 70 and 80 percent, with peak intensity expected toward the end of the year.

The agencies also warned that high international prices for fuel, fertilizers and food could further worsen the situation by reducing households’ purchasing power and increasing pressure on social protection systems and humanitarian responses.

The panel opened with a presentation by Julian Báez, Director of the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Regional Office for the Americas, who highlighted that the phenomenon is expected to have moderate to severe consequences. The projected impacts include increased rainfall in South America, which could lead to flooding, as well as rainfall deficits in Central and North America.

Staying one step ahead

Preparedness matters because budgets are shrinking, while climate-driven humanitarian needs, and potentially those linked to El Niño in the coming months, are increasing worldwide. Supporting governments and communities to reduce the risk of recurring food crises and investing in early climate action saves resources in the long term.

With United Nations support, several Central American countries have activated anticipatory action plans after meteorological thresholds indicating water scarcity risks were reached. More than 76,000 people are getting ready through practical messaging, cash transfers, distribution of staple grains, and monitoring of weather stations.

Likewise, during the 2023–2024 El Niño event, anticipatory actions were implemented in nine countries across the region, benefiting more than 100,000 people in 250 rural communities through cash transfers, distribution of agricultural inputs, rehabilitation of water systems, installation of irrigation systems, animal health brigades, and strengthened local capacities. In some Central American countries, these interventions led to increases of up to 40 percent in maize and bean production, as well as improvements in food security.

Rene Orellana Halkyer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted that through its emergency and resilience programmes, tools and foresight analysis, FAO supports countries in identifying priority territories, critical gaps, and enabling investments to reduce vulnerabilities. “In response to El Niño, anticipatory actions implemented together with governments and partners in nine countries across the region benefited hundreds of rural communities through direct support, the rehabilitation of water and irrigation systems, the distribution of inputs, and capacity strengthening, protecting livelihoods and increasing the production of staple crops by up to 40 percent.” 

The Regional Director of IFAD’s Latin America and the Caribbean Division, Rocío Medina Bolívar, highlighted that “long-term investment in rural communities and strengthening their capacities is essential so they can adapt to climate events, be prepared for future impacts, and continue producing food for the region. Building resilience today means creating the conditions to generate jobs, expand opportunities, and improve quality of life in rural territories.”

“Extreme climate events will continue to occur, but we can prevent them from triggering humanitarian crises. By combining insurance, credit, and digital financial services, we help governments and communities withstand droughts, floods, and storms,” explained Lena Savelli, Regional Director of the World Food Programme. “We are transforming humanitarian responses as we know them, so that social protection systems leave no one behind and communities can save, insure themselves, and receive support as soon as there’s an early warning, instead of waiting for assistance after the impact,” she added.

The high-level roundtable brought together regional authorities and experts in risk management, humanitarian cooperation, and agriculture, including Hodwell Ferguson, Minister of Agriculture of Belize; Amanda Rivera, Director of Temporary Shelters at Ecuador’s National Risk Management Secretariat; Adherbal De La Rosa, Executive Secretary of the CEPREDENAC; and Luigi Pandolfi, Head of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of DG ECHO.