GLOBAL HEALTH IMPACTS
• Severe drought and associated food insecurity, flooding, rains and temperature rises due to El Niño 2015-2016 are causing a wide range of health problems, including disease outbreaks, malnutrition and disruption of health services.
• El Niño 2015-2016 is affecting more than 60 million people, especially in Eastern and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific.
• Although adverse weather effects of El Niño are expected to wind down by mid-2016, the health impacts are expected to last throughout 2016 and beyond. Urgent attention is needed now.
• WHO and partners are working closely to support nearly 30 countries to prepare and respond to this El Niño event, but significant funding gaps must be closed to prevent avoidable deaths and illnesses.
• La Niña may follow in the second half of 2016, causing further extreme conditions and more health problems. Regardless of El Niño and La Niña, WHO urges countries to prepare for all climate risks.