East Africa is ramping up emergency preparations for the forecast record-breaking El Niño, but strained urban infrastructure, rapid population growth and severe projected flood risks mean readiness remains inadequate under pressure.
The potential flood hotspots in the Northern Corridor have been mapped during the October-December rainy season, which is to run into 2027, with the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad), the World Meteorological Organisation and the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) calling for plans to mitigate the effects in East Africa and the Horn.
