El Salvador — humanitarian situation

El Salvador faces mounting food security pressures driven by climate shocks and the emerging El Niño phenomenon. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in early July that El Niño has set in over the Pacific and is expected to strengthen rapidly, likely becoming an intense event by year's end UNDRR. The phenomenon poses particular risks to the Central American Dry Corridor, where El Salvador is situated, with forecasts indicating an 82-88% probability of establishment between May and July 2026, rising above 90% toward the end of the year OCHA. In response to early drought signals, the El Salvador Red Cross activated early action protocols in June to protect vulnerable populations, as the absence of rainfall is expected to worsen due to El Niño IFRC. Food insecurity has deteriorated in recent years due to rising food prices, climate change impacts, and other threats affecting rural agricultural households FAO. An IPC analysis of the Trinational Frontera Río Lempa region, which includes portions of El Salvador, found that 113,000 people—16% of the analyzed population—currently face Crisis or Emergency levels of acute food insecurity IPC. During the lean season and with El Niño intensifying, this figure could rise to approximately 157,000 people facing severe food insecurity IPC. While most families maintain relatively diverse diets, nearly one in three households resort to crisis or emergency coping strategies to meet food needs, revealing underlying vulnerability FAO. WFP analysis warns that the intensifying El Niño will significantly worsen food insecurity in vulnerable countries through 2027, with the agency ramping up early response efforts WFP. The public health landscape shows contrasting trends. Measles cases have surged dramatically, with the Americas region reporting 22,324 confirmed cases and 38 deaths between epidemiological weeks 1-23 of 2026—a 207% increase compared to the same period in 2025 PAHO. PAHO urges Member States to strengthen surveillance and vaccination activities given the regional increase. Conversely, dengue transmission has declined, with 1,432,399 suspected cases reported through epidemiological week 28, representing a 61% decrease compared to 2025 PAHO. UNHCR continues protection activities for forcibly displaced persons and asylum seekers in El Salvador, commemorating World Refugee Day and hosting the country's first refugee and asylum-seeker entrepreneurs fair UNHCR.