15 January 2016, Rome--- The strongest El Niño weather episode in the last several decades has caused repeated crop failure, decimated herds of livestock and driven some 10.2 million people across Ethiopia into food insecurity. The El Niño phenomenon is associated with abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in parts of the Pacific Ocean and that has had severe effects on global weather and climate patterns. Some regions have seen reduced rainfall and drought while others have seen heavy rains and flooding. According to the latest assessments by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization an emergency response plan is urgently needed as the Ethiopia faces its worst drought in 30 years. And an appeal has been made to the donor community for 50 million dollars to support the country.