The World Food Programme is seeking $26 million to prepare for and respond to El Niño in Burundi, warning that more than 1 million people already facing crisis-level hunger or worse are threatened by flooding, landslides and crop losses.
In its September 2026 country brief, covering August operations, WFP said Burundi is entering a critical period from October to January, with what it called one of the strongest El Niño episodes in decades. The agency listed disease outbreaks and supply-chain disruptions among the risks and said the El Niño could raise flooding and crop-loss risks for the 2027A growing season.
The request includes $6.3 million for anticipatory action, such as community alerts and cash transfers, and $19.7 million for response activities, including food assistance and school meals.
The brief does not estimate how much damage El Niño will cause in Burundi. WFP’s warning is that existing vulnerabilities could be compounded if the hazards materialize.
Harvest helps, but prices stay high
The warning comes even as conditions have improved since the 2026B harvest, which WFP said sustained household and market stocks. About half of monitored markets had more than five metric tons of beans, rice or maize available, though production was weaker than last year and household stocks remained below July 2025 levels.
Prices were broadly stable compared with June, with cereals down 1% and tubers down 3%. But beans and rice cost more than in 2025, and most staples remain above their five-year averages. WFP said the gradual depletion of household stocks, fuel supply risks and persistent livelihood constraints could weaken access to food in the coming lean season.
A revised minimum expenditure basket prepared by Burundi’s Inter-Agency Cash Working Group found that food commodity costs had almost doubled over the past two years. Once endorsed, it will inform discussions on humanitarian cash-transfer values. WFP also cited high inflation, fuel shortages and electricity disruptions as straining transport, supply chains and services.
Wider funding gaps
The appeal comes as WFP’s broader Burundi operation faces a $57 million net funding gap for September through February. The agency needs $62.9 million for the period and has $5.9 million funded. WFP said the shortfalls are already affecting food assistance and nutrition programmes, and that treatment for moderate acute malnutrition reaches only 3% of planned beneficiaries.
For about 120,000 refugees, WFP expects a pipeline break in December and warns of a high risk that assistance will be fully interrupted from January 2027. It says $33.7 million is urgently needed to provide full rations through September 2027.
School meals are also at risk. WFP says $18 million is needed to feed more than 845,000 pupils in 982 schools during the 2026-27 school year.
WFP said it is working with the government and partners on disaster preparedness and is assessing whether cash transfers could be used in an El Niño response, while preparing transport and storage capacity.
