Africa Faces El Niño, Needs Billions in Aid

The anticipated exceptionally strong El Niño event could cause economic damage of $10bn–$20bn to African countries and trigger mass migration from the hardest-hit areas, Anthony Nyong, director for climate change at the African Development Bank (AfDB), told Reuters.

According to him, El Niño could reduce the GDP of the hardest-hit countries by an average of 1%–2%. Extreme drought, floods and storms will threaten food security, public finances and the banking sector, and governments may be forced to cut spending on health care, education and infrastructure.

The AfDB estimates that African farmers will lose nearly $330m in income this year. It also expects negative impacts on the fishing industry due to rising sea temperatures and more frequent storms.

Nyong warned that the greatest risks are facing Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Mali, Burundi and Nigeria. According to him, a doubling of corn prices and a shortage of water or pastureland could force millions of people to leave their homes.

The AfDB has therefore called for a significant increase in funding for adaptation measures even before the expected climate event occurs. According to Nyong, this amount could reach as high as $50bn.

(Reuters, sab)