5 August 2026 21:14 (UTC+04:00)Ulviyya Poladova Read moreThe consequences of El Niño, an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that affects the global climate, could increase the number of people suffering from hunger worldwide by approximately 50 million over the next two years, AzerNEWS reports, citing the UN World Food Programme (WFP). According to the statement, the El Niño phenomenon observed in 2015–2016 negatively affected the food security of 60–100 million people. The analysis, covering 45 countries, examined states that are already suffering from food shortages. El Niño will significantly affect rainfall patterns, temperatures, and the likelihood of floods and droughts in these countries. The total number of people experiencing acute food insecurity in these countries is expected to rise from approximately 225 million to 274 million.