In regions Venezuela and Americas and in groups Venezuela and Americas

Venezuela

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2020-07 Factsheet

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Fundación Vivienda Popular, 2020

Highlights

  • With over 74,000 spontaneous returnees that have entered until the end of July 2020, according to Government data, with the largest number entering through the Colombian-Venezuelan border, returnees still need to remain quarantined in the Government-led Puntos de Atención Social Integral (PASI). The number of PASIs has considerable grown to attend the additional influx of returnee population, reaching about 300 spaces nationwide.
  • Despite of the limited access to basic services, partners continue severely affected by the lack of access to provide shelter, energy and NFIs assistance in multiple locations.
  • Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has extended the State of Alarm for a month due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, which includes nationwide movement restrictions that have also jeopardised the capacity of some partners to provide assistance.

NFI

Shelter

Need analysis

  • The increasing number of spontaneous returnees to Venezuela during July, who must comply with health protocols when quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus, makes it necessary to support the local authorities to expand the capacity of these temporary shelter arrangements. Reportedly, given the location, the main priority is the Colombian-Venezuelan border.
  • The distribution of NFIs, including IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) items as part of NFI kits to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and solar lamps, in prioritised communities (e.g. in community centers for instance) and temporary shelter arrangements has been identified as a priority due to the reported limited access to basic services (e.g. long-term power shortages of roughly half a day and lack of access to gas bottles) in communities located in border states, including Bolívar, Apure, Táchira and Zulia.

Response

  • Through July 2020, a total of 27,150 children and adults (55% female and 45% male) benefited from a better access to safe shelter, energy and/or NFIs in seven states, being the ones with the highest number of people reached Táchira (15,457), La Guaira (5,765) and Bolívar (4,825). Most of the response focused on COVID-19 emergency interventions.
  • The COVID-19 emergency activities in temporary shelter arrangements targeted the Government-led Puntos de Atención Social Integral (PASI) located in La Guaria (Los Caracas) and PASIs in the states of Miranda and Táchira, reaching a total of 8,995 people. In La Guaira, solar lamps for public lighting were installed in community areas and overall, the electrical system was repaired. The PASI was also equipped with basic NFIs, including sleeping mats. In addition, during July the installation of a total of 12 refugee housing units (RHUs) in the outer area of ​​the PASI finished to expand its total capacity. The PASIs of Miranda state were equipped with kitchen kits to support a total of 200 people, while several PASIs of Táchira (in Colón, Rubio and San Cristóbal municipalities) were supported with solar lamps for public lighting. Through July, the Shelter Cluster partners provided capacity building sessions for 68 staff members from the PASIs of La Guaira, Miranda, Zulia and Apure.

  • Two electric generators were installed in the clinics of El Cuquí and La Concordia (Táchira state). The rehabilitation of the Fundación Social Simón Bolívar health facility (Bolívar state) was also completed, including the installation of 3 RHUs. In total, these interventions reached 5,350 people. To strengthen the capacities of state institutions, several community centers were equipped with kitchen kits, solar lamps and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) items in Bolívar (Caroní municipality) and Táchira (Junín, San Cristóbal municipalities, García de Hevia and Ayacucho), reaching 5,713 people.

  • 634 solar lamps were distributed in prioritised communities of Bolívar, Apure, Táchira and Miranda, reaching 4,880 people. Habitat kits were also distributed, reaching 1,350 beneficiaries in Amazonas, Bolívar and Táchira. The kits included IPC items. Other interventions included the distributions of basic equipment (including hammocks and mosquito nets) for people with specific needs in prioritised communities of Bolívar and Zulia.

Gaps / challenges

  • Limited access to fuel in the country continues affecting activities and operations of partners to provide humanitarian assistance to the target population.
  • Besides movement restrictions related to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some partners have had to suspend activities in border communities in Táchira state (e.g. Boca de Grita and Mata de Curo) due to access restrictions.
  • Both the access and the provision of assistance in temporary shelter arrangements are considered as high risk activities given the positive cases that may go unnoticed or outbreaks of COVID-19 among beneficiaries.
  • The 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan was published in mid-July; however, most of partners that submitted a project have not received any funding through the HRP mechanism, which affects the response capacity and implementation of organisations.