Jamardhan Pillay has a sugar cane farm outside Lautoka, Fiji, where he lives with his extended family. Like many other farmers, he is worried about the effect El Niño could have on his crops, having seen the devastating impact of the 1997-98 drought, which halved sugar cane harvests across the country. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
El Niño is a warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific. It can have profound effects on weather patterns around the world. The most severe El Niño occurred in 1997-98. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Some 4.1 million people are at risk of drought across the South Pacific. OCHA estimates that 1.8 million out of a total population of 7 million people in Papua New Guinea could be severely hit. Credit: IOM/Wonesai Sithole
It is the sugar cane harvesting season in Fiji's western division and like many farmers, Rajeshwar Nath has been working long hours to harvest his crops as the drought sets in. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
The hills across Fiji's west are starting to dry out after months of below-average rainfall. The 1998 drought slashed the sugar cane harvest by half, causing a US$48 million loss in revenue in the sugarcane industry alone. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Sugar cane on its way to the mill in Rakiraki in Fiji. Farmers here are already reporting that their harvest is down by one quarter because of the lack of rain. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Sugar cane is just one of the crops that is likely to be affected by the developing El Niño in Fiji. Farmers need to plan for the year ahead by planting drought-resistant crops, say specialists. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Aklesh Chandra collects water from his water bore, which will help his farm in Lautoka, Fiji, endure the drought. El Niño rainfall follows a wave of warmer water eastwards, decreasing the amount of rainfall in the western Pacific. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
This lake completely evaporated during the 1997-98 drought, leaving nothing but mud behind. Farmers fear that the same may happen again as El Niño builds up. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Across western Fiji, farmers have tried to prepare the fields to plant subsistence food crops. However, most have not yet been able to plant any seeds because of the lack of rain. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Trucks carrying sugar cane to be crushed in RakiRaki in Fiji's north-west. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Freshly cut sugar cane waiting to be crushed near Rakiraki in Fiji. Credit: OCHA/Danielle Parry
Farmers and Government officials in Papua New Guinea evaluate the extent of crop damage caused by El Niño-induced drought and frost. Credit: IOM/Wonesai Sithole
An assessment team at work in Papua New Guinea. Credit: IOM/ Wonesai Sithole
The 1997-98 drought hit rural areas hard in Papua New Guinea, killing hundreds and leaving millions in need of food and water. The Government and humanitarian agencies are working with communities to prepare as El Niño builds up. Credit: IOM/Wonesai Sithole
Children play near a water hole in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Water holes like this will soon dry up if drought conditions continue. Credit: IOM/Wonesai Sithole
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