Why do frequent El Niños still catch the region by surprise?

Friday, May 24, 2024 | 250 Views |

Changing times: El Nino is predictable but regional governments struggle to deal with its impact

Every seven years or so, the El Niño phenomenon, hated and dreaded in equal parts, covers the region with heatwaves and droughts. As authorities assess the devastation from the most recent visit, why does it seem El Niño still surprises the region? MBONGENI MGUNI writes

SADC, this week, launched a $5.5 billion (P74.4bn) global appeal for humanitarian aid, in the wake of a devastating El Nino-hit summer that brought record droughts and floods to more than 60 million people in the region.

The last such appeal was a $2.7 billion request in 2016, which at the exchange rates of the time amounted to P29.6bn.

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