environment 3 September 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
UNICEF Sounds Alarm: El Niño Poses Grave Danger to Ugandan Children
UNICEF warns that the impending El Niño event poses significant risks to over 162 million children across Eastern and Southern Africa, with Uganda identified as a high-risk country. The climate pattern could lead to widespread malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and disruptions to education and safety. Source: https://observer.ug/news/unicef-warns-coming-el-nino-rains-put-ugandas-children-at-risk
The upcoming El Niño weather phenomenon presents a multifaceted threat to children across Uganda and the wider Eastern and Southern Africa region, according to a stark warning from UNICEF. The agency estimates that more than two-thirds of children in the region, totaling over 162 million, reside in areas vulnerable to the intensifying 2026/2027 El Niño.
Uganda is among 13 nations pinpointed by UNICEF as facing potential dangers including drought, extreme heat, and flooding. These conditions could severely impact children’s nutrition, health, access to clean water, educational continuity, and overall safety. El Niño, a natural climate pattern stemming from warm Pacific Ocean temperatures, has the power to disrupt global weather systems, leading to significant consequences.
In East Africa, the short-rains season is anticipated to bring an increased risk of flooding, with effects that may persist into 2027. For families, these climate shifts can rapidly escalate into economic hardship and health crises. Floods threaten to destroy homes, damage infrastructure, contaminate vital water sources, and force school closures, while inadequate rainfall can devastate harvests, exacerbating food insecurity and leaving young children particularly susceptible to malnutrition.
Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF’s regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasized the escalating threat, stating, “The threat from El Niño is growing, and the risks for children are already clear.” She highlighted that children across the region are already grappling with food and water insecurity, strained health services, and disrupted learning. Without intervention, major climate shocks could push both children and the systems supporting them to their breaking point.
UNICEF is urging governments and donors to act proactively, seeking $173 million to support 13 priority countries. This funding would enable anticipatory actions such as pre-positioning nutrition supplies, strengthening disease surveillance, securing water and sanitation systems, protecting schools, and preparing cash assistance for vulnerable families. The agency stresses that early action is not only more effective but also more economical, with every dollar invested in disaster risk reduction potentially saving up to $15 in future recovery costs.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)