The effects of El Nino-related weather changes are being felt worldwide. While East Asia, South America and parts of Africa are experiencing floods, heat waves and droughts are parching the North American Midwest, central Asia and several African regions. As in any natural disaster, the poor are finding recovery much more difficult. In southern Africa, where El Nino has contributed to the worst food shortage in a decade, millions may never recover.

“The U.S has been affected by drought in the South West leading to forest fires in Colorado and Arizona, but in this country we have the resources to recover quickly and help others do the same,” says Randy Strash of World Vision’s emergency response team. ”It’s the poor in places like Chile, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe who will struggle for years to recover.”

World Vision is providing emergency aid to hundreds of thousands of people affected by El Nino. In Chile, Nicaragua, Bangladesh and Kenya, World Vision is providing mosquito nets, mattresses, blankets, temporary shelter, plastic sheeting, food, clothing and medicine to those affected by the weather. In the southern African countries of Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, World Vision is providing emergency food and will provide agricultural training when farmers recover to protect their crops from future failure.