UNICEF Warns Impending El Niño Threatens Education, Health, and Safety for Millions

A mother and her child stand in the wreckage of their destroyed home in Toamasina, Madagascar, following a devastating cyclone. Credit: UNICEF/Tsiory Ny Aina Andriantsoaranaby Oritro Karim (united nations)Friday, October 09, 2026Inter Press Service UNITED NATIONS, October 9 (IPS) - New figures from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) project that the impending 2026-2027 El Niño cycle could be one of the strongest on record. Marked by unusually wet and dry conditions, this cycle is forecast to trigger a host of extreme weather events, threatening the health, security, education, and development of over 347 million children worldwide. “For children, El Niño is far more than a weather pattern. It can mean increased displacement, malnutrition, water shortages, and disease outbreaks. Children are also at risk of schools closing, while families could experience added financial hardship,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, emphasizing that anticipatory action is critical in protecting communities from climate shocks in the coming months. Nearly half of the world’s children—roughly 1.1 billion—are already exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, includi...