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Amazon drought linked to El Niño 2026
A strong El Niño is causing river levels in the Amazon basin to fall rapidly, cutting off riverine and Indigenous communities from drinking water, food and medicine.
Open on the interactive globeIn Amazonas state 12 municipalities have declared an emergency due to drought and 11 more are on alert (civil defence bulletin of 18 September 2026). The Negro River near Manaus fell by almost 58 cm in the first 10 days of August, and in Peru low levels are being monitored on the Marañón, Ucayali and Huallaga. In the municipality of Itamarati alone the drought affected 7,323 residents and 19 rural communities, including 11 Indigenous villages, were cut off.
Needs
- water and sanitation
- food
- health
- logistics
- livelihoods
Who is helping
Organisations that, according to their own publications, work on this event (2). Donations go directly to each organisation's own website - GLOBURNS does not handle payments.
- Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute (IDSM)The Tefé-based Mamirauá Institute carries out research and conservation in the middle Solimões region, including long-term monitoring of Amazon river dolphins and…Donate on the organisation's website (mamiraua.org)
- Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS)FAS supports riverine and Indigenous communities in the reserves of Amazonas state. During the 2026 drought it delivers food and drinking water to cut-off communities…Donate on the organisation's website (fas-amazonia.org)
Sources
- portaltucuma.com.br portaltucuma.com.br/amazonas-tem-12-municipios-em-emergencia-e-outros-25-em-situacao-de-n…
- segundoasegundo.com.br segundoasegundo.com.br/2026/09/avanco-da-estiagem-faz-nove/
- upi.com upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/08/27/latam-el-nino-amazon-rivers-levles-low/31217878549…
- ifrc.org ifrc.org/article/2026-super-el-nino-how-are-we-preparing-its-impact-latin-america-and-car…
Seed record, before editorial verification. Every number links to its source; report errors on the Corrections page. Methodology · Corrections
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