00:00This El Niño event is going to be a very significant one.
00:04All of the projections tell us that the impacts are going to be substantial.
00:09They're obviously varied a little bit depending on which country or which parts of countries we're talking about.
00:15But between lack of rainfall leading to drought or excessive rainfall leading to flooding in other areas,
00:22these are going to be the manifestations.
00:24But for me, I think the most important element to think about is it's going to be a very significant
00:30event in and of itself,
00:31but it's not happening in isolation.
00:33So this El Niño event is a food security risk multiplier.
00:38In response to the El Niño phenomenon, FAO that I represent and the World Food Programme released a multi-country,
00:46a 22-country anticipatory action plan, because this is the phenomenon that we can respond to in advance.
00:53We have early warnings. We understand what's required.
00:56That appeal, covering 22 countries, to support nearly 9 million highly food insecure people,
01:03we asked for $202 million.
01:06We still have a funding gap of $160 million.
01:09Africa will be significantly impacted by this El Niño phenomenon.
01:13Again, it looks a little bit different in Southern Africa, in Eastern Africa, in West Africa.
01:17Africa, even within particular countries, Ethiopia is one example.
01:23You can have some areas more exposed to rain, others slightly drier.
01:27But yes, Africa, without a doubt, will be hit hard by this El Niño phenomenon.
01:32Sudan, I was there.
01:33I was in Khartoum State, in White Nile State, in Sena State, able to travel and visit a number of
01:39locations.
01:39This is a country context where the projections are for some 30 to 40 percent lower rainfall this year,
01:46because of El Niño.
01:49That clearly is going to impact rain-fed agriculture.
01:53As FAO, we're responding there with drought-adapted seeds,
01:58with small interventions to boost ability to pump water,
02:02to irrigate crop production where that's possible.
02:05Adapting agricultural livelihoods, looking at how we transform agricultural systems
02:10with a focus on adaptation, that's going to be the key to resilience moving ahead.
02:15And so we can't predict the future.
02:17Obviously, we don't know what's going to unfold.
02:19But the more we equip vulnerable households with the tools to be able to cope with this uncertain future,
02:26the greater the likelihood that we mitigate some of these worst-case scenarios.
02:57We'll see you next time.
03:00We'll see you next time.
