UNICEF Warns El Niño Threatens Millions of Children in Latin America
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) reports that 25.8 million children and adolescents across Latin America and the Caribbean face growing risks from severe droughts and heavy rains driven by an exceptionally intense El Niño phenomenon, compounded by human-induced climate change.
Peak Weather Extremes Threaten Regional Vulnerability
The natural climate phenomenon, declared in June, is tracking to become the most intense ever recorded, with its peak expected between October and December. Roberto Benes, UNICEF regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, states that these visible and severe weather impacts threaten to push more children into greater vulnerability while widening existing inequalities.
Regional consequences vary widely by geography. In Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, prolonged droughts constrain agricultural production, fueling food insecurity and childhood malnutrition risks. Communities in these nations also face persistent hurdles in accessing safe drinking water.
Infrastructure and Water Crises Span the Continent
Drought conditions elevate wildfire risks across parts of Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela. Meanwhile, dropping river levels in the Amazon basin threaten to isolate local communities entirely. In the Caribbean, Unicef warns that El Niño threatens to worsen protracted crises in Cuba and Haiti.
Conversely, along the Pacific coast of Mexico and South America, heavy rainfall increases flood risks for schools and health infrastructure. A single large-scale storm can cause widespread destruction and disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of families, according to Roberto Benes.
Funding Shortfalls Hamper Emergency Preparations
Unicef urges heightened regional preparation to protect essential services and deliver necessary support to affected children. The organization appealed for $53.8 million to address El Niño-related emergencies across Latin America, but had secured only half of that total by June 30.