El Niño puts 347 million children at risk, UNICEF warns; 190 million in Asia

More than 347 million children in nearly 100 countries are expected to face unusually wet or dry conditions between October and December 2026 because of one of the strongest El Niño events on record, the UN children's agency UNICEF said in a release on October 6, 2026. Asia and the Pacific account for the largest share, about 190 million children, a figure UNICEF's regional offices highlighted again in releases reported on October 9. The agency warned that floods and droughts linked to El Niño could close schools, harm children's health and safety, and push families into extra financial hardship, and it urged governments to prepare now.

El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that shifts rainfall patterns around the world. For families, the science matters less than what follows: a failed harvest, a flooded home, a school turned into a relief camp, or a long walk to find clean water. Children feel these shocks first. When incomes fall, households may cut back on food or medical care, older children may be pulled out of school to work or look after siblings, and girls in particular risk losing years of education.

UNICEF's warning is a reminder that family resilience starts before the disaster. Simple steps at home can make a real difference: keeping important documents such as birth certificates and school records safe and dry, knowing where the nearest shelter or relief point is, storing clean drinking water and basic medicines, and making a plan for how children will keep learning if their school closes.

For families in India and the wider Asia-Pacific region, which holds the largest share of affected children in UNICEF's estimate, the message is to watch weather advisories closely in the coming months. Communities and schools can also plan ahead, for example by preparing to run classes in alternative spaces and by making sure that mid-day meals and health check-ups continue during an emergency.

The bigger point is that disasters do not only damage buildings; they can break a child's routine, learning and sense of safety. Families that talk calmly with children about what might happen, and keep daily routines as normal as possible, help them cope.

Short-term: Over the next three months, children in affected regions face higher risks of disrupted schooling, illness and food shortages as floods and droughts hit.

Long-term: Missed school and lost family income during climate shocks can have lasting effects on children's learning, nutrition and future earnings unless governments and communities prepare.

Who is affected: Children and parents in nearly 100 countries, especially in Asia and the Pacific, along with schools, health workers and local governments responsible for disaster response.

Questions and Answers