UN News Today – 05 August 2026 |

Strengthening El Niño set to significantly worsen food insecurity 

We start with the stark warning from the World Food Programme – WFP – that tens of millions of people face being pushed into acute hunger because of the strengthening El Niño weather phenomenon. 

The agency and partners are boosting efforts to protect some of the vulnerable communities in eight countries who are already struggling with poverty, conflict, joblessness and repeated climate extremes.  

With more, here’s Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service: 

“WFP’s analysis shows the very real threat posed by the ongoing El Niño. It’s forecast to become a super El Niño later this year, and it could throw millions of people into hunger. The biggest impacts are expected in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Southern Africa. It’s critical to act now to help families prepare for the worst. That includes severe droughts, floods, poor harvests, and rising hunger.” 

El Niño is expected to peak between September and December, but the effects will be felt throughout 2027 in many countries, as the weather system impacts future harvests. “Drought, flooding and extreme temperatures are already putting communities at risk,” WFP warned. 

The agency and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization have appealed for increased support to help at-risk communities prepare for El Niño and  help protect lives, livelihoods and food security before emergencies escalate. 

Every $1 invested in preventive action can save $3–$7 in future losses and response costs, the agencies said. 

UN rights chief alarms over surge in executions in Iran 

UN human rights chief Volker Türk has expressed alarm at a sharp rise in executions and death sentences in Iran; he’s issued an urgent appeal to the authorities to immediately halt the practice and move towards abolishing the death penalty. 

Since 19 March, at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges, including 27 linked to protests across Iran earlier this year, Mr. Türk said.  

Here’s spokesperson for the High Commissioner’s Office, Jeremy Laurence: 

“Persistent lack of fair trial and due process guarantees are deeply troubling. Confessions have allegedly been obtained under torture and other ill-treatment. Several executions have reportedly been carried out in public. Some have reportedly been carried out only weeks after arrest. Twelve defendants were reportedly sentenced to death following a single three-hour closed-door hearing.” 

More than 100 others are believed to be at risk of being put to death on similar charges, while executions for drug-related offences also continue at an alarming rate, according to the High Commissioner, who stressed that the death penalty has no place in today’s world. 

Trapped shipping in Strait of Hormuz is an ecological timebomb 

To the US-Iran war and a warning that ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz are a potential  ecological timebomb. 

That’s because merchant vessels that have been stationary in the Persian Gulf for months fearing attack are providing an ideal new home for aquatic species that could invade other sea environments, once shipping gets underway again. 

Responding to the threat of so-called “bioinvasion”, the UN maritime agency IMO said that the problem of “biofouling” has increased in recent decades because of the increase in ships and in trade. 

Here’s spokesperson Natasha Brown: 

“There is a risk of a transfer of species if ships are unable to remove fouling before moving out of an area or after a prolonged period of time in one area, but there’s a risk anyway if ships are not performing good biofouling management such as cleaning the hull. So, the IMO recommends that ship operators follow the IMO biofouling guidelines as far as possible.” 

IMO is developing a legally binding treaty to help manage biofouling and minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.  

The agency noted that the problem affects many parts of the world and that the impact on some ocean areas has been “devastating”, because once an invasive species takes hold, it’s very hard to get rid of them.  

“Bioinvasions are actually continuing at an alarming rate and there are new areas being invaded all the time,” IMO has warned. 

Daniel Johnson, UN News.