WMO warns of sharp climate impacts in Africa; FAO and WFP seek $22 million for El Niño anticipatory action

At a UN briefing, an agency official summarized a World Meteorological Organization report that extreme weather and climate-related events affected at least 13 million people in Africa in 2025 and contributed to more than 3,000 reported facility impacts, with the continent warming faster than the global average. The official said Africa's glaciers have lost more than 90% of their area since the late 19th century and cited regional sea-level rise rates above the global average in parts of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean coast and the Red Sea.

Separately, FAO and WFP launched their first joint anticipatory action plan, seeking $22 million to protect nearly 9 million people across 22 high-risk countries from projected El Niño impacts. The plan, the spokesperson said, targets droughts, floods and storms that threaten food security and livelihoods and is presented as cost-efficient, estimating each dollar invested could avert $7 in avoided losses. FAO and WFP urged urgent, flexible funding to be at scale.

The briefing linked these scientific and operational briefs to broader UN discussions on sustainable development, food systems and preparedness ahead of anticipated climate-related shocks.