In regions Americas and Venezuela and in group Americas

Venezuela

2021-11 Factsheet

< Oct 2021
November 2021
Dec 2021 >
Adriana Durán, CAEE, 2021

Highlights

  • By the end of November 2021, the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster reached 541,534 beneficiaries through partner organizations. Activities covered 17 states and Capital District.  551 street solar lamps, 30 electric systems and 137 Refugee Housing Units have been installed to support institutions and communities.  Also 13,580 solar lamps, 2,739 habitat kits, 1,849 family kits and 749 individual kits have been delivered to support the most vulnerable population.
  • The Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator participated in the cluster monthly meeting with partners organizations. The cluster presented its structure at national and subnational level, response areas and main challenges (with inputs from partner organizations). The R/HC highlighted the importance of having a multisectoral and joint approach during programming for next HRP to guarantee greater impact on people in need.
  • During November, the cluster participated in the strategic and technical review of project proposals for the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF) second contribution (USD 8 M). The fund will have three multisectoral focus areas: indigenous communities, assistance for children during the return to schools, and assistance to people affected in clashes zones. Partner organizations proposed 10 projects with shelter, energy and NFI interventions.
  • As part of multisectoral coordination efforts, the cluster together with WASH cluster, participated in the Education cluster monthly meeting where the 2022-2023 strategy was discussed. Complementary actions between three sectors were highlighted, emphasizing how shelter, energy and NFI interventions could be integrated in education programming.
  • The cluster took part in the presentation and workshop of the project InPlace organized by partner organization TECHO. Aligned with the cluster preparedness actions for natural disasters, the main objective of the project is to design a training program to understand the risk of a community facing natural disasters and to understand the differences between risk, threat, and vulnerability.

 

NFI

Shelter

Need analysis

  • Within the 2022-2023 HNO preparation actions, the cluster began to create the analysis framework of the most critical humanitarian needs related with shelter, energy and NFI in order to estimate the number of People in Need (PiN) and stablish geographic prioritization.
  • With the reopening of the Simón Bolívar International Bridge (Táchira state) on the western Venezuela-Colombia border, complementary intersectoral actions to assist people on the move along the country's main routes, including the distribution of basic NFIs and relevant information on how to access to temporary shelters, is a growing need in border states such as Táchira, Zulia, Bolívar and Apure, as well as in transit states such as Barinas and Falcón.
  • As part of the support of health institutions within the framework of the national vaccination plan against COVID-19, interventions as rehabilitations, improvements in the electrical network and provision of equipment and NFI to health centers continues to be one of the main priorities to be addressed. In the states of Zulia, Táchira and the Capital District, needs have been identified to strengthen health institutions with the creation of spaces for vaccination and staff accommodation through the installation of emergency shelters units such as tents, RHUs, among others.

Response

  • By the end of November 2021, 541.534 individuals have been reached by Shelter, Energy and NFI activities (55% female and 45% male) in 17 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, Apure, Falcón and Bolívar. 
  • Interventions have supported centers providing dignified essential services to population, maximizing the reach to vulnerable population.  67 health centers have been benefited from the partners actions, including the support for triage and vaccination areas responding to COVID-19 emergency.  33 temporary collective centers in border areas (including PASIs) have been benefited by the response supporting vulnerable people on the move, and 66 community centers providing protection and essential services to population have been benefited through shelter, energy and NFI response.
  • Activities have been in place to improve access to energy have reached 151,357 individuals551 street solar lamps have been installed in public places, including the surroundings of institutions benefited by the response, to provide illumination also preventing associated protection risks.  30 electric systems, including photovoltaic systems for institutions, organizations, community centers and collective shelters, have been installed allowing access to basic services for the most vulnerable population.
  • Actions have been taken to improve shelter conditions in community centers including the installation of 137 refugee housing units (RHUs).  71 RHUs have been installed in health centres, 24 in collective temporary shelters and PASIs, and 42 have benefited community spaces, centers and institutions, communities, authorities and other locations.  Also, 68 centers and institutions have been improved by rehabilitations and extensions.  Overall, 293,698 individuals have been benefited through shelter interventions.
  • 96,497 individuals have benefited from improved access to basic NFIs.  Basic NFI distribution has been critical in the assistance of vulnerable people specially those affected by flooding and by armed conflicts.  NFIs delivered have included 13,580 solar lamps, 2739 habitat kits, 1849 family kits and 749 individual kits, including critical items like mosquito nets and insect repellents to prevent extended diseases, pads, sheets and cooking items, rechargeable fans among others.  Basic NFIs have also served to strengthen the capacities of community centers, institutions, and temporary shelters, through basic mobiliary, wheelchairs and kitchen sets, among others.

Gaps / challenges

  • Estimation of the number of People in Need (PIN) is still a challenge due to lack of access to official updated data. Despite this, the cluster ensured that humanitarian needs in the areas of Shelter, Energy and NFIs are considered during PIN calculation. The cluster also took into consideration the variables available to capture the most critical needs in the three areas to prioritize the cluster's response.
  • Although activities have been reported in Amazonas and Delta Amacuro states related with distribution of basic NFIs to people with specific needs, operations in these states continues to be limited despite overall humanitarian needs identified mainly in isolated communities without effective access to public services as electricity.
  • A decrease in the number of organizations has been observed during monthly cluster meetings, the participation of partners is fundamental to the success of the sector. Actions to ensure participation and strengthen coordination at the national level will be taken during the next meetings.