Our fragile world is being hammered by one crisis after another. It’s about to get worse
The world is facing a convergence of crises, including a war-induced closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the emergence of a strong El Niño pattern. These events are disrupting global energy, fertilizer, and food supplies, raising fears of widespread acute hunger. Scientists and UN officials warn the combined impact could escalate into an unprecedented 'omnicrisis' in the coming months.
- ▪The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global oil and gas supplies, affecting the production of urea-based fertilizers.
- ▪A Kelvin wave detected in the Pacific indicates a strong El Niño is developing, which typically causes extreme weather and reduced crop yields.
- ▪The UN is tracking 318 million people at risk of acute hunger globally, with fears that an additional 45 million could face intense hunger due to the dual crises.
- ▪Samir Wanmali, UN World Food Program director for Asia and the Pacific, expressed deep concern over the compounding impacts on food security.
- ▪Satellite and buoy data from January and February 2026 confirmed the formation of the Kelvin wave, signaling early climate disruptions.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.