EU to help countries impacted by El Nino weather phenomenon

The European Union will contribute millions of euros to help countries faced with catastrophic losses as a result of this year’s El Nino weather phenomenon.

The lion’s share of the €125m in funding will come from the reserves of the European Development Fund, the European Commission said in a statement.

Speaking at the United Nations-sponsored 2015 Climate Change conference in Paris, EU commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides emphasised the money would also help affected countries build up their resilience to future natural disasters.

The effects of the so-called El Nino Southern Oscillation – which derives its name from the fact that it was first detected by fishermen in Chile – have been felt as far afield as India, contributing to recent “exceptionally” dry conditions at the start of the most recent planting season, the Reserve Bank of India said on 1 December.

According to the EU, approximately 34m people – spread across Africa and Central and South America - were already being affected by the droughts and floods caused by El Nino.

In Ethiopia alone, between January and October of 2015 the population judged to be at risk from food insecurity had shot up from 2.9m to 8.2m.

“With about 34m people affected worldwide, and the most virulent impact ever expected to take place, the phenomenon demands a coordinated global response,” the EU’s executive arm said.

Corn prices in South Africa jumped to 20-month highs on Tuesday as a result of the prolonged drought, with the weakness in the rand, the country’s currency, adding to the fluctuations in prices.

“Most models indicate that a strong El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2015-16,” the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on 12 November.