UNICEF: El-Nino threatens 347 million children

UNICEF has released its latest report on climate change, One.uz reports.

According to the report, the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon—a powerful natural anomaly in the Pacific Ocean—could severely affect more than 347 million vulnerable children across 100 countries. UNICEF specialists have assessed the three-month period from October to December 2026 as the highest-risk level.

Abnormal weather: Floods and droughts
Based on UNICEF analyses, sharp deviations from normal weather patterns are expected in various regions of the planet over the next three months. A dual threat: while some areas may experience unprecedented humidity and torrential rains leading to catastrophic flooding, others could face extreme dryness, increasing the risk of widespread drought.

Cascading consequences: The impacts of El Niño go beyond weather changes. They may trigger mass displacement (forced migration), shortages of safe drinking water, malnutrition, and the spread of epidemic diseases among millions of families.

Global statistics alarming: According to UNICEF estimates, around 1.1 billion children worldwide—nearly half of all children—are currently living in areas exposed to high risks from extreme heat, droughts, or floods. The mysterious force turning deserts into bloom: The Atacama phenomenon
The extraordinary scale of El Niño’s influence is further confirmed by a recent event recorded in South America.

A natural miracle: In Chile’s Atacama Desert—one of the driest places on Earth—unusually heavy rainfall brought by El Niño transformed the usual sand and stone landscape into a breathtaking carpet of vibrant flowers. A sign of climate instability: This striking sight, breathtaking at first glance, actually reflects a disruption in the planet’s long-term natural balance and signals that the climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable in ways that cannot be reliably forecast.

International humanitarian organizations are urging governments to act without delay, to activate rapid assistance mechanisms to protect children and vulnerable populations in regions prone to drought and flooding.