Africa facing US$10-US$20bil economic hit from ‘super’ El Niño, warns AfDB climate chief

LONDON : An impending “super” El Niño is likely to inflict a combined US$10 billion to US$20 billion hit on affected African countries and trigger mass migration from hard-hit areas, the African Development Bank’s top climate expert told Reuters. Forecasters are warning that the El Niño weather pattern — which often drives severe droughts, flooding and storms in Africa — could turn into one of the strongest ever seen if current Pacific Ocean warming trends continue.

As well as the threat to food and water security, government finances and banking sectors could also be undermined if disasters damage infrastructure and leave cash-strapped countries struggling to repay the connected loans.

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