In regions Americas and Venezuela and in group Americas

Venezuela

Dashboard
Related Operations

2021-03 Factsheet

Download as PDF
< Feb 2021
March 2021
Apr 2021 >
UNHCR, 2021

Highlights

  • During the first quarter of 2021, the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster reached 181,219 beneficiaries through partner organisations. Activities covered eleven states and Distrito Capital:  Cluster activities were focused on the community level and included the installation of 72 Refugee Housing Units (RHUs) to improve community centers and institutions benefiting 69,454 individuals, and improved access to energy benefiting 69,334 individuals.
  • In early March the authorities confirmed the first cases of the COVID-19 P.1 variant in La Guaira, Miranda and Bolívar, the Government of Venezuela put in place new movements restrictions and special measures in these states. Due to the increase in positive cases during the end of the first quarter of 2021 with over 160,497 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Venezuela as of 31 March, the authorities announced two continuous weeks of social quarantine including movements restrictions nationwide affecting partners operations.
  • Reportedly, during Q1-2021, spontaneous returns through official crossings points across the border with Colombia have decreased, while an increase of caminantes going to Colombia through Táchira, Zulia and Apure has been reported. Returns continue to be registered through the Brazil-Venezuelan border in Bolívar state as well as through Plan Vuelta a la Patria flights from Ecuador, Colombia and Perú.
  • Movements restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus have impacted mobility patterns nationwide, including both outflows and returns with higher number of people on the move during flexible weeks.
  • The Cluster participated in review committees (strategic and technical) of the first allocation of the Venezuelan Humanitarian Fund (Country-Based Pooled Funds managed by OCHA) stablished in 2020. Four national and local partners presented projects to be financed through this funding mechanism.
  • In coordination with Food Security Cluster, a specialized training session on energy and food security was organized in late March, 60 members of partner organizations from both clusters participated. The workshop was focused on sharing relevant information and strengthening technical capacities on alternative sources of energy for cooking and producing electricity.
  • The Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) guided the definition of a strategy for 2021 with sub-national clusters and partners contributions to strengthen the effectiveness and timeliness of the shelter, energy and NFI response.

NFI

Shelter

Need analysis

  • During late March, clashes have been reported on the Colombian-Venezuelan border of Apure state generating human mobility to Colombia.  No humanitarian access has been granted to the area so far, however, shelter and NFI distribution needs might be required.
  • Due to the significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases during the first quarter of 2021 and the reported number of patients exceeding the actual capacity of health facilities, remain as a priority provide assistance to expand isolation and triage zones in health establishments as well as NFI and equipment distributions and shelter repairs to increase their capacity to care patients.

Response

  • During the first quarter of 2021, a total of 181,219 individuals were beneficiated from better access to safe shelter, energy and/or basic equipment in eleven states and Distrito Capital, being the states with the highest number of beneficiaries Sucre (72,418), Táchira (61,297), Merida (11,052), Miranda (10,719) and Bolívar (9,050).  The response was focused on the community level, including the installation of a total of 72 RHUs benefiting 69,454 individuals.
  • Activities at community level to improve access to electricity were conducted in Miranda, Sucre Táchira, and Capital District, including the installation of solar lamps for public places benefiting 42,819 individuals and the installation of photovoltaic systems for institutions and organizations benefiting 19,305 individuals.
  • A total of 15 health establishments (including hospitals and CDIs) were reached with 69,854 beneficiaries, including the installation of 24 RHU for isolation and triage and shelter repairs.
  • Non food items (NFI) distribution reached 33,897 beneficiaries, including kitchen sets, mattresses, mosquito nets, mosquito repellents, hygiene items and solar lamps, with the highest number of beneficiaries in Táchira, Sucre, Bolivar and Carabobo.

Gaps / challenges

  • Even though there is a higher coverage in the easter region of the country (Sucre and Anzoátegui) in comparison with 2020, there are prioritized states with no response with shelter, energy and NFI activities in the first quarter of the year: Amazonas, Delta Amacuro, Guárico and Monagas.
  • Limited access and shortage to both fuel and diesel in the country have affected commercial activities including public transportation, having a negative impact on logistic operations for partners organizations.
  • The Humanitarian Response Plan with Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021 has not been published yet, limiting access to funding for partners organizations through this financial mechanism.