This story is largely sound, but I would like you to improve it further by tying up any loose ends
UNICEF calls for urgent investment as El Nino threatens millions of children
UNICEF is calling for urgent investment in child-critical response as the El Niño rains beckon, warning that more than 162 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa face the greatest risk.
UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Etleva Kadilli said risks for children are growing as the weather phenomenon intesifies in strength, threatening their nutrition, health, education, safety and access to safe water and sanitation.
“Across the region, children are facing food and water insecurity, overstretched health services and disrupted learning. Further, major climate shocks will likely push children and the systems they rely on to breaking point,” Kadili said.
UNICEF assessments point to urgent and potential risks for children in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Zambia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Other than heavy rain and flooding, El Niño simultaneously triggers severe dry conditions, drought and extreme heat, events UNICEF says are already impacting children.
Recent studies show that climate change is making the 2026/2027 El Niño events roughly 36 per cent more intense than has ever been witnessed, forecasts UNICEF says provide a critical window for countries to act before the most severe consequences are felt.
It said over two-thirds of all children in Eastern and Southern Africa could be impacted by the severe weather conditions yet less than one per cent of international humanitarian assistance is currently available for anticipatory action.
In Somalia, flooding could directly affect up to 2.5 million people under the most severe scenario while tens of thousands of children are likely to be affected in Ethiopia, particularly in areas already facing severe food insecurity.
In South Sudan, drought, extreme heat and localised flooding threaten to deepen food insecurity and malnutrition, increase disease outbreaks and compound famine risks and large-scale displacement.
“We know what is coming, which children are most at risk and how to protect them. The choice is whether the world responds now, or waits until the crisis escalates, and children pay an even greater price,” Kadilli said.
“The threat from El Niño is growing, and the risks for children are already clear.”
UNICEF has asked countries to urgently invest in child-critical response gaps before the impacts peak.
UNICEF said it urgently requires US$173 million for the existing 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) requirements to reach children and families with anticipatory and life-saving assistance across 13 priority countries.
It said acting on forecasts before the effects of El Niño intensify protects children and delivers significant value.
According to the humanitarian agency, every dollar invested in disaster risk reduction can save up to 15 dollars in future recovery costs.
UNICEF wants countries to scale up nutrition services by pre-positioning life-saving supplies and expanding early screening and treatment.
It also wants governments to support health and WASH systems by strengthening disease surveillance, essential vaccination campaigns and health services, and secure safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Countries are also being asked to keep children learning by reinforcing school infrastructure and prepare safe, alternative learning spaces before disruption occurs.
Governments are also being urged to protect children from violence and exploitation by expanding psychosocial support, family tracing and reunification, and measures to prevent gender-based violence.
UNICEF also wants countries to strengthen shock-responsive social protection by linking early-warning systems to anticipatory cash assistance and other social protection measures, while building the capacity of government-led systems to respond to future shocks.
