Drought response: El Salvador issues red alert as Spain boosts resilience funding

El Salvador has activated a red alert due to a meteorological drought following a 35.7% deficit in rainfall for 2026. Extreme temperatures reaching 44°C in some areas have caused significant soil moisture loss. The government is coordinating with the United Nations and the private sector to protect vulnerable families, agricultural production, and livestock. Authorities are monitoring water availability and implementing measures to ensure rational water use.

In a separate effort to combat global drought, Spain has announced a 5 million euro contribution to the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) during the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 in Ulaanbaatar. This brings Spain's total contribution to the alliance to 10 million euros. The IDRA, co-led by Spain and Senegal, aims to improve anticipation, prevention, and resilience against drought, a phenomenon that currently affects 1.84 billion people worldwide.