Venezuela Crisis - Improving Access to Health and Protection Services - IRC 2019

March 2019 - Over 3.3 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 many of whom are currently residing in neighbouring countries such as Colombia Ecuador and Peru. In addition to hosting over 1 million Venezuelans Colombia continues to suffer from the effects of longstanding violence and armed conflict between armed groups and criminal gangs. Crisis-affected people including those in host communities are in need of basic health assistance food and nutrition assistance protection services shelter and water and sanitation. With GAC’s support the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is helping address the basic health and protection needs of up to 5 100 crisis-affected people in the department of Norte de Santander in Colombia. Project activities include: (1) providing quality prenatal and postnatal care to up to 1 300 women and adolescent girls; (2) offering other sexual and reproductive health services including family planning services and clinical care for vulnerable people and/or survivors of sexual and gender-based violence; (3) improving access to emergency care for up to 200 girls and boys under the age of five; (4) providing psychosocial services to crisis-affected people; (5) providing a safe space for up to 1 000 women and adolescent girls; and (6) providing emergency cash-based transfers to vulnerable households.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to basic health services and care including sexual and reproductive health services; (2) improved access to quality gender-based violence prevention and response services; and (3) increased access to basic services and goods through multipurpose cash. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.