In regions Americas and Venezuela and in group Americas

Venezuela

2021-04 Factsheet

< Mar 2021
April 2021
May 2021 >
UNHCR, 2021

Highlights

  • By the end of April 2021, 236,606 individuals (55% female and 45% male) benefited from better access to safe shelter, energy and non food items (NFIs) in 13 states and Capital District.  Cluster partners activities were focused on access to energy including the installation of 63 street solar lamps in public places and 14 systems to enhance access to electricity, improvement of shelter conditions considering the installation of 84 refugee housing units, and distribution of basic NFIs for 36,100 individuals considering people on the move.
  • In early April, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB for its acronym in Spanish) activated a temporary Integrated Operational Defence Zone (ZODI by its Spanish acronym) in three border municipalities of Apure state due to ongoing clashes reported on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Activation includes land, air and water movements restrictions and creation of special public plans for ensure peace and security which has an impact on the operations of partner organisations.
  • During the reporting month, an extraordinary inter-cluster meeting at subnational level in Bolivar state was held with the participation of Shelter, Energy and NFI national cluster. During the meeting was discussed: a) urgent humanitarian needs in Nabasanuka and near indigenous Warao communities of Delta Amacuro related with limited access to essential services as electricity and water; and b) a coordinated advocacy strategy with relevant authorities to guarantee humanitarian access and to deliver assistance in Delta Amacuro.
  • As of 30 April, authorities confirmed 16,347 active COVID-19 cases and the highest number of deaths due to the virus was reported since the beginning of the pandemic. During the reporting month the modality of strict lockdown, including movements restrictions every other week, was re-established.
  • On April 19, the Government of Venezuela and World Food Program (WFP) signed a memorandum of understanding to stablish a presence in the country and start operations. WFP will focus on providing meals for children in schools starting September 2021.  It is also expected that the presence of WFP in Venezuela will provide a logistical improvement for the entire humanitarian response.

NFI

Shelter

Need analysis

  • Reportedly, dynamics of human mobility continues across the Venezuelan border mainly through irregular pathways even during strict lockdown weeks and including spontaneous returns in the border with Brazil, outflows of caminantes and pendular movements going to Colombia through Táchira, Apure and Zulia. Shelter repairs, adaptations, constructions and improvements in temporary shelter arrangements, including the Government-led Puntos de Atención Social Integral (PASI) and church and quarantine spaces in border municipalities and main routes in central states remain a priority to guarantee better access to shelter and basic NFI to vulnerable persons in situation of human mobility.
  • Living conditions have been severely affected by lack of access to essential services as electricity and energy for cooking specially in vulnerable communities located in remotes areas living in improvised and overcrowded shelters, including isolated indigenous communities. Limited access to electricity, as reported in Delta Amacuro, specifically in Nabasanuka and other river communities, leads to increased protection risks as gender-based violence in areas with poor lighting, and limited provision of other services as water and health.

Response

  • By April 2021, 236,606 individuals have been reached by Energy, Shelter and NFI activities (55% female and 45% male) in 13 states and the Capital District.  The states covering the higher number of beneficiaries have been Sucre, Táchira, La Guaira and Miranda.
  • Activities to improve access to energy addressing limitations in access to essential services, including power outages, has included the installation of 63 street solar lamps in public places and 14 systems to improve access to energy installed, including photovoltaic systems in institutions, organizations, community centers and collective shelters.  As a result, 73,012 individuals were benefited by improved access to energy.
  • Improvements in shelter conditions have included the installation of 84 refugee housing units (RHUs).  45 RHUs have been installed to expand and create triage areas and quarantine zones in health centres, 22 have been installed to extend capacities in collective temporary shelters, and 17 have benefited community spaces, centers and institutions.
  • Action has been taken to improve access to basic NFIs including 2,104 portable solar lamps delivered for vulnerable individuals delivered both individually and through community centers and institutions.  36,100 individuals have been benefited by NFI distributions.  Response on access to basic NFIs has included vulnerable persons on the move benefited from family kits, habitat kits and individual kits, and has also addressed vulnerable people through institutions and collective centers. 

Gaps / challenges

  • Limited access by operational partner organisations to identified remote areas lead to a gap in affected populations’ access to humanitarian assistance.  Specifically, isolated indigenous communities in Delta Amacuro have identified needs related to access to adequate shelter, electricity and basic NFI.  In addition, there is limited presence and capacity of humanitarian actors in remote areas of states prioritized by the cluster in eastern region impacting the ability to reach populations in need.
  • Access to fuel in central and border states remains a significant challenge for implementing organisations, impacting operational capacity and delivery of assistance.