An impending “super” El Niño is likely to inflict a combined $10 billion to $20 billion hit on affected African countries and trigger mass migration from hard-hit areas, the African ​Development Bank’s top climate expert told Reuters. Forecasters are warning that the El Niño weather pattern — which often drives severe droughts, flooding and storms in Africa — could turn ‌into one of the strongest ever seen if current Pacific Ocean warming trends continue. As well as the threat to food and water security, government finances and banking sectors could also be undermined if disasters damage infrastructure and leave cash-strapped countries struggling to repay the connected loans. “Just this event is going to reduce heavily affected countries’ GDP by 1% to 2% on average, which is about $10 billion to $20 billion across the continent,” Anthony Nyong, the AfDB’s ​director for climate change and green growth, said in an interview. The AfDB’s most recent forecasts in May predicted Africa as a whole would see 4.2% economic growth this year, ​rising to 4.4% in 2027 assuming the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran eases.

Full report : Africa facing up to $20 billion economic hit from ‘super’ El Niño, AfDB climate chief warns.