El Nino threatens 'millions in east and southern Africa

• 10 November 2015
 
• From the sectionAfrica

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Media captionClive Myrie reports on the terrible toll drought is taking on people in Ethiopia

Some 11 million children are at risk from hunger, disease and water shortages in east and southern Africa because of the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon, the UN children's charity has said.

It has caused the worst drought in more than 30 years in Ethiopia, Unicef said.

Its effects could also be "particularly harsh" in Somalia, amid fears of flooding, it warned.

El Nino is caused by Pacific Ocean warming.

• Ethiopia faces worst drought in decades

"The weather phenomenon, among the strongest on record, is likely to cause more floods and droughts, fuel Pacific typhoons and cyclones and affect more areas if it continues strengthening as forecast over the coming months," Unicef said in a statement.

It said 8.2 million people in Ethiopia faced food insecurity, while an estimated 350,000 children needed treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34779447