Venezuela Crisis - Venezuela Humanitarian Fund - OCHA 2020

November 2020 - The crisis in Venezuela has resulted in severe food and fuel shortages record hyperinflation and the collapse of the health system putting both food and medicine out of reach for many citizens and heavily impacting people’s ability to meet basic needs. Nearly 5.5 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 many of whom are currently residing in neighboring countries such as Colombia Ecuador and Peru. As the situation continues to deteriorate in Venezuela vulnerable and crisis-affected populations are in need of critical assistance including basic health assistance food security and water sanitation and hygiene. This project represents Canada’s funding to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF). The VHF aims to provide timely allocations to national and international non-governmental organizations as well as United Nations agencies to address some of the most critical humanitarian needs in Venezuela. Project activities include: (1) addressing acute unmet emergency needs; (2) filling the highest priority gaps in protracted crises situations; (3) preventing a worsening of the situation and increased vulnerability; and (4) responding to new emergencies or sudden-onset disasters.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access for the most vulnerable to life-saving humanitarian assistance (e.g. food nutrition health protection shelter water sanitation and hygiene support); (2) increased capacity of the humanitarian system to respond to urgent needs; and (3) increased capacity among national humanitarian organizations to effectively respond to urgent needs. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in communities experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.