In regions Americas and Venezuela and in group Americas

Venezuela

2021-08 Factsheet

< Jul 2021
August 2021
Sep 2021 >
Clúster Alojamiento Energía y Enseres, 2021

Highlights

  • By the end of august 2021, the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster reached 325,285 beneficiaries through partner organisations. Activities covered 15 states and Capital District.  291 street solar lamps, 41 electric systems and 88 Refugee Housing Units have been installed to support institutions and communities, and 9,334 solar lamps, 1063 habitat kits, 1204 family kits and 123 individual kits have been delivered to support the most vulnerable population.
  • Heavy rains continue to affect many states, including Mérida, Zulia, Apure, Bolívar, Anzoátegui, La Guaira, Miranda, Trujillo, Aragua, Carabobo, Delta Amacuro, and Capital District, generating flooding and blocking access roads. Specifically, seven municipalities in Mérida were strongly affected by floods and landslides, causing the death of people, loss of homes and basic NFI, and interruption of basic services such as electricity and water. The Government decreed a State of Emergency for 90 days and created a special command to attends urgent needs. Humanitarian organizations have provided support with basic NFI and improvements to a temporary shelter.
  • The Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) held a meeting at the end of August. The main action point was the establishment of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to review the standardized basic NFI kits in 2019-2020.
  • During August, United Nations Secretary-General appointed Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro as the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela, who took up his post on 23 August.

NFI

Shelter

Need analysis

  • The Cluster carried out a mission to Los Lagos community (Los Teques, Miranda state), as part of the coordination actions with Miranda authorities and OCHA Coordination Hub in Caracas to assist the people affected by flooding. The mission aimed to carry out multisectoral need assessments, including identification of shelter conditions in risk areas.
  • Reportedly, due to flooding nationwide, the Government stablished collective centres in Mérida, Miranda, and Anzoátegui to assist people who have lost their homes and basic NFI. It is a priority to organize training sessions in management of temporary shelters principles for public officials.
  • Countrywide limitations on access to energy for cooking (including domestic gas bottles) have led to the massive use of firewood as an energy source despite its negative effects on health and environment. It is critical to promote alternative sources of energy for cooking, including electric stoves and other sustainable solutions.

Response

  • By August 2021, 325,285 individuals have been reached by Shelter, Energy and NFI activities (55% female and 45% male) in 15 states and the Capital District.  The states covering the higher number of beneficiaries have been mainly border states and central states: Táchira, Sucre, Miranda, La Guaira, Apure, Zulia, Bolívar and Mérida.
  • The partners focused their interventions at the community level.  49 health centers have been benefited from the partners actions combining access to energy, shelter and critical NFIs availability, including the support for triage and vaccination areas as part of COVID-19 response.  25 temporary collective centers in border areas (including PASIs) have been benefited by the response as well as 48 community centers providing protection and essential services to population.
  • Activities have been in place to improve access to energy addressing the limitations related with the national electric system through renewable sources of energy.  291 street solar lamps have been installed in public places and 41 electric systems, including photovoltaic systems in institutions, organizations, community centers and collective shelters.  As a result, 96,675 individuals have been benefited with improved access to energy.
  • Actions have been taken to improve shelter conditions in community centers including the installation of 88 refugee housing units (RHUs).  34 RHUs have been installed to expand and create triage areas, quarantine zones and vaccination areas in health centres preventing the spread of COVID-19, 22 in collective temporary shelters, and 32 have benefited community spaces, centers and institutions, communities and other locations.  Overall, 162,470 individuals have been benefited through shelter interventions.
  • Finally, improving access to basic NFIs for the most vulnerable population has benefit 66,140 people.  Basic NFI distribution has been critical in the assistance of vulnerable people specially those affected by flooding, and also affected by armed conflicts and.  NFIs delivered have included 9,334 solar lamps, 1063 habitat kits, 1204 family kits and 123 individual kits, including critical items like mosquito nets, insect repellents, pads, sheets, cooking items, among others.  Basic NFIs have also benefited community centers and institutions through basic mobiliary and kitchen sets, among other items.

Gaps / challenges

  • There are humanitarian needs identified for indigenous populations, including access to electricity and energy for cooking, that have not been covered due to humanitarian access limitations.  Efforts have been put in place to overcome this challenge, and it has been identified as a priority area for VHF second assignment in 2021.
  • There has been a gap identified related with post-monitoring of NFIs deliveries and distributions, as part of actions to improve the way NFI assistance is delivered and designed responding to beneficiaries’ preferences.  Post-monitoring processes have been identified as a priority to be address by the NFI TWG to be led by the Shelter Cluster in the coming months.
  • Even though, regional plans have been stablished to respond to flood emergencies in several states, there is still a need for a national coordination with government authorities on this matter in order to strengthen contingency plans.