Millions of Children Threatened by 'El Niño' Impacts

Panama, AFP – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that millions of children in Latin America face growing risks from droughts and floods caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon, which is expected to be the strongest on record this year.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern that leads to rising sea surface temperatures in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, causing shifts in wind patterns and rainfall worldwide.

UNICEF reported that 25.8 million children in Latin America—one in every seven—are facing heightened risks due to droughts and floods that are already causing widespread damage in Central and South America.

In a statement, Roberto Benites, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the impacts of the phenomenon “threaten to increase the vulnerability of more children and deepen existing inequalities.”