Nearly 100 countries may face unusually wet or dry conditions from October to December 2026, raising the risk of floods and droughts.
More than 347 million children in nearly 100 countries and territories could face unusually wet or dry conditions from October to December 2026 because of El Niño, UNICEF warned. The conditions could increase the risk of destructive floods and droughts.
The agency said the resulting impacts could include displacement, malnutrition, water shortages and disease outbreaks. About 1.1 billion children, nearly half of all children worldwide, are already exposed to at least three climate hazards at once, including drought, extreme heat or flooding.
UNICEF cited data showing that weather disasters displaced more than 20,000 children each day between 2016 and 2023. It warned El Niño could drive that figure higher.
The largest number of children at risk live in the Asia-Pacific region, about 190 million. Eastern and Southern Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean each have about 41 million children at risk. Europe and Central Asia account for 22 million, while the Middle East and North Africa and West and Central Africa each account for 20 million. In August, the United Nations said the 2026–27 event could rank among the strongest on record.