UNICEF says 11mln children in East, Southern Africa at risk over El Nino

The UN children's fund has warned that floods, landslides and diseases linked to heavy rains produced by El Nino threaten the health of 11 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa.

UNICEF said in a report on the weather phenomenon's potential impact as it strengthens, the heavy rains threaten to undo gains in nutrition, health and education.

"The consequences could ripple through generations unless affected communities receive support amid crop failures and lack of access to drinking water that are leaving children malnourished and at risk of killer diseases," UNICEF said in the report.

The report "A Wake Up Call: El Nino's Impact on Children" came after a series of climatic shocks in 2014 and 2015 ruined harvests, leaving many children and their families dependent on food aid to survive in several countries in the region.

According to UNICEF, the Kenyan government estimates that 2.5 million children may be affected by floods, landslides, mudslides and diseases linked to the El Nino rains.

"Drought, food insecurity and potential floods will also put further strain on food and health supplies for displaced people and host communities, including 1.3 million refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya and 1.1 million internally displaced people in Somalia," UNICEF said.

Stunting has also been identified as an outcome of a severe El Nino due to loss of crops and consequent undernourishment of children, the report said.

Below-average height may be associated with delayed mental development, greater risk of illness and premature death, UNICEF pointed out.

Besides the immediate risks of death and injury, UNICEF said El Nino can lead to significant increases in diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, diarrhoea and cholera-which are major killers of children.

"When extreme weather deprives communities of their livelihoods, young children often suffer from under nutrition, which puts them at greater risk for illness, delayed mental development and premature death," UNICEF said.

The report says the effects of El Nino could be particularly harsh for Somalia, which is already in a severe humanitarian situation following decades of conflict and erratic rainfall this year.

According to UNICEF, more than 3 million people are in need of support in Somalia as the effects of El Nino are already being felt.

"Severe flooding is anticipated along the Shebelle and Juba rivers, where access is constrained by armed violence, attacks and threats against aid workers," it said.

Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 30 years, leaving 8.2 million people food-insecure and an estimated 350,000 children in need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

In Zimbabwe, the number of food-insecure people is expected to reach 1.5 million by the time the January-March "lean season" sets in.

In Malawi, where almost half the children are already undernourished, UNICEF fears the worst drought in almost a decade could cause a further increase in severe acute malnutrition.

"Changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall can promote diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, diarrhoea and cholera, which are major killers of children," UNICEF said in a report on the weather phenomenon's potential impact on East Africa.

El Ninos are not caused by climate change, but scientists believe they are becoming more intense as a result of climate change.

Many of the countries now experiencing El Nino are those that face the gravest threat from climate change. Many of the areas affected also have high poverty levels.

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. Enditem