The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) are strengthening coordination and support for governments across Latin America and the Caribbean in response to forecasts of El Niño.

At a high-level roundtable yesterday, the agencies focused on early action, preparedness and resilience to mitigate the effects of increasingly volatile climate conditions.

Despite recent progress, more than 33 million people in the region remain affected by hunger, while 167 million face moderate or severe food insecurity. Over 181 million cannot afford a healthy diet. The Americas also account for 22 per cent of global agricultural disaster losses, estimated at US$713 billion.