Introduction
Venezuela continues to face a deep economic, social, and political crisis which has severely affected its healthcare system, leading to significant shortages in public services and escalating challenges in accessing food. Additionally, the strain on humanitarian resources is intensified by exposure to natural hazards and armed violence.
More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015. According to local humanitarian assessments, 20.1 million people need humanitarian assistance, primarily in essential areas such as food, health, nutrition, education and protection. 82% of Venezuelans suffer from food insecurity and nearly 70% live in multidimensional poverty.
What are the needs?
Despite a significant reduction in inflation rates, severe scarcity of food and essential goods still compromises the daily lives of many. According to UN figures, it would take more than 30 years of positive economic growth, at the 2021 rate, to reach the economic volume it had in 2013.
As of May 2024, the minimum monthly wage is equivalent to €3.56, and the average monthly salary is around €100, while the basic monthly food basket amounts to around €500. Food remains scarce for 41.9% of the population and the food crisis has an adverse impact on children’s nutrition.
The loss of public health system services affects more than 70% of the population. Outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and dengue frequently affect the most vulnerable population.
Around 70% of the population does not have regular access to water. The country has seen several widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases: measles, diphtheria, and malaria, most likely because preventative and vaccination programmes have been discontinued or have a very low coverage, and sanitary conditions have worsened.
Up to 40% of school-aged children are not attending class regularly and 35% are outside of the formal education system. The mass exodus has also resulted in the lack of qualified education personnel – at least 200,000 teachers left the country since 2017.
In 2023, 6,973 violent deaths were reported. Homicide rates are among the highest in the world (26.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024). The situation in border areas, confronted with the presence of armed actors and criminal gangs, is of particular concern, with an increase of violence. 4.4 million people, including 1.4 million children, need protection assistance.
How are we helping?
In 2024, the EU has allocated around €50 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the most urgent needs of Venezuelans.
The funding focuses on delivering health and nutrition, protection, education, food assistance, shelter, and legal assistance among other areas of intervention.
Since 2016, the EU has allocated €443 million in emergency humanitarian aid for Venezuela. The funding helps assisting Venezuelans in need inside the country as well as those hosted in neighbouring countries.
EU humanitarian assistance is delivered through UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the Red Cross movement. They implement projects covering the broad spectrum of humanitarian needs.
The aid focuses on addressing the most pressing needs of the population, targeting vulnerable groups such as children under 5 years (mainly nutrition) and children under 18 (comprehensive), pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, older people, and indigenous groups.
Projects focus on delivering vital health care, water, sanitation and hygiene, education in emergencies, nutritional and food support.
The assistance to refugees and internally displaced people focuses on emergency medical services, food assistance, the provision of legal information and support, protection initiatives (specifically against gender-based violence and human trafficking), education in emergencies, and shelter.
Last updated: 15/05/2024
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