Abu dhabi: Nearly 50 million more people in highly vulnerable communities globally are set to be pushed into acute hunger because of the strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday. According to Emirates News Agency, the agency and partners are boosting efforts in eight countries to protect some of the most vulnerable communities who are already struggling with poverty, conflict, joblessness, and repeated climate extremes. Priorities include preparing for floods, droughts, and storms before they hit. "El Niño is a massive threat to the food security of millions who are already vulnerable," said Carl Skau, WFP's Acting Executive Director. "The sooner we help families to prepare for these climate shocks, the greater our ability to save lives and protect livelihoods." WFP noted that the 2015-2016 El Niño impacted the food security of 60 to 100 million people. Early projections indicate that the 2026-2027 El Niño could push at least 49 million more people into acute food insecurity by the end of next year. After analyzing 45 countries already considered food insecure-and where El Niño will significantly influence rainfall patterns, temperatures, floods, and droughts-the agency expects the total number of acutely food-insecure people to rise from 225 million to 274 million people, an increase of approximately 22%. El Niño is expected to peak between September and December 2026, but the effects will be felt throughout 2027 in many countries, owing to impacts on future harvests. "Drought, flooding and extreme temperatures are already putting communities at risk," WFP warned.