Venezuela
In Venezuela, HI works with indigenous communities and local stakeholders to improve living conditions and access to education for vulnerable people.
Thanks to her new mill, Luz will be able to increase her production of cane molasses. | © M. Campos / HI
Actions in process
In Venezuela, HI works in the Amazonas and Delta Amacuro regions to improve access to education and protect vulnerable populations. HI enables children and young people to access safe, high-quality education and provides inclusive humanitarian assistance. HI provides comprehensive support, including mental health and psychosocial support through individual and group interventions; protection services such as inclusive case management, institutional strengthening, and the reinforcement of community-based protection mechanisms; and a water, sanitation and hygiene response that includes hygiene kits, awareness-raising activities, household water treatment and safe storage and sanitary infrastructure improvements. Assistance also includes food baskets, prevention activities for vector-borne diseases, and physical and functional rehabilitation.
Through playful and educational activities, HI supports children and their families by raising awareness and helping children stay in school or return to the education system. In addition, HI responds to emergencies, such as the water crisis in Sucre State, by providing urgent water, sanitation and hygiene and food security assistance to affected communities.
The organisation works with local authorities and community leaders to enable them to prevent, identify and address risks of violence and anticipate needs arising from disasters. HI trains the community representatives so that they know how to respond to a disaster and can offer their communities tailored solutions that meet their needs. The organisation places particular emphasis on an inclusive approach, taking into account age, gender and disability, to ensure that everyone receives appropriate support.
- Number of HI staff: 12 people
- Number of direct beneficiaries supported by HI in 2025: 27,545 people
- Number of indirect beneficiaries supported by HI in 2025: 85,747 people
- Programme launch date: 2019
Areas of intervention
concretely
Situation of the country
Venezuela, a South American country with a population of 28.3 million, has been experiencing a major humanitarian, political and socio-economic crisis for several years, marked by record inflation, widespread poverty and mass population displacement. In 2026, more than 7.9 million Venezuelans are in need of urgent humanitarian aid – nearly a quarter of the population – whilst more than 8 million people have left the country since 2015.
Recurring political crises, including the dispute over the 2024 elections, international tensions and the recent intervention by the United States in early 2026, have further weakened institutions. Despite a slight economic recovery in 2024–2025, the majority of the population lives in poverty: 56% of Venezuelans live in extreme poverty, with very limited access to basic services such as food and healthcare. Inequalities are widening, and essential public services (health, education, water, electricity) remain inadequate, exacerbating the vulnerability of the population. Disasters such as floods and landslides regularly worsen the situation, particularly in precarious rural and urban areas.
The humanitarian situation is critical, with priority needs in food security, health, protection and access to drinking water. As a result, nearly 40% of the population suffers from food insecurity, and children are particularly affected by malnutrition and a lack of access to education. Furthermore, older people and people with disabilities, who are often overlooked, face major obstacles in accessing services and humanitarian aid. Despite legislative progress and national plans for the inclusion of people with disabilities, their situation remains a cause for concern, with a lack of adapted facilities and social protection.
- Population: 28.4 million
- HDI: 0.706 (2023)
- GDP: USD 119.8 billion (2024)
- GDP per capita: ~4,511 USD (2024)
