El Nino brings hunger, drought fears to Madagascar
In a small village in southern Madagascar, dozens of women shelter from the scorching sun under a tree as they wait to weigh their children.
The Indian Ocean island nation has suffered poor rainfall since October and fears of worsening hunger loom as the El Niño climate pattern takes hold.
The country is particularly exposed to extreme weather events such as storms and droughts which experts say are expected to worsen with climate change.
"Madagascar is facing the climate crisis now," said Reena Ghelani, the United Nations Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño response.
At least 1.3 million people in Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries, already suffer from malnutrition, according to the UN.
In recent years, a vast area in the south has been hit by the worst drought in four decades.
Weather forecasts predict an even drier 2024, with potentially dire consequences for the harvest season starting in May.
"There is nothing growing on our land. Everything we plant ends up falling. It's because of all this we suffer," Nasolo, a mother of 10, said.
At least 1.3 million people in Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries, suffer from malnutrition, the UN says.