Venezuela

In Venezuela, HI works with isolated communities and local actors to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations.

Thanks to her new mill, Luz will be able to increase her production of cane molasses. | © M. Campos / HI

Actions in process

HI's programme operates in the Amazonas and Apure regions to meet the substantial needs of rural populations affected by the consequences of the armed conflict in Colombia. The programme is developing community initiatives and strengthening community links and protection systems to help defuse violence. Our teams are working to create safe and inclusive spaces within communities, and are running awareness-raising sessions on rights and the fight against sexual violence and human trafficking. They place particular emphasis on supporting indigenous women and girls by improving access to health services, especially sexual and reproductive health. HI also facilitates access to rehabilitation services, distributing technical aids, such as glasses, wheelchairs and walking sticks, and offers psychosocial and mental health support to the most vulnerable populations.

Our teams are also running a project to install sanitation facilities to give people access to water and sanitation. At the same time, they are organising awareness-raising sessions on the risks of disease and distributing, among other things, hygiene products and food. In carrying out these actions, HI is particularly sensitive to the needs of populations who are often neglected and have specific needs, such as indigenous populations and women. The programme is also developing actions to strengthen protection mechanisms for people at greater risk of aggression, such as women, children, older people and people with disabilities.

It is also running a project to support the communities, and especially young people, in strengthening their economic and social integration. It is supporting the development of economic initiatives launched by young people, helping them to sustain their activity and their income. Our teams are also encouraging greater participation by young people in community life to strengthen cohesion within groups.

Finally, HI is providing food support to schools in the state of Monagas. Meals are distributed to students, as well as food hampers for them to take home. Our teams also run awareness-raising campaigns and training courses for various educational stakeholders to ensure that children have a healthy, balanced diet.

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Situation of the country

Since 2013, Venezuela has been experiencing a severe socio-economic crisis that has led to a sharp increase in poverty and driven over 7 million Venezuelans to leave the country.

At the beginning of the 20th century, oil was discovered in Venezuela, which has the largest known reserves in the world today. Thanks to rising oil prices in the early 2000s, the government led by Hugo Chávez had the funds needed to implement its populist social welfare policies. These policies initially stimulated the Venezuelan economy, temporarily reducing economic inequality and poverty.

When Hugo Chávez died in 2013, Nicolás Maduro was elected with a narrow majority in a widely contested election. Falling oil prices and speculation brought about the collapse of the country's economy. This destabilisation triggered a crisis with hyperinflation, economic depression and shortages of basic goods. This in turn led to a drastic increase in unemployment, poverty, disease, malnutrition and crime, a situation worsened by the sanctions imposed by the US government.

The socio-economic crisis in Venezuela has been deteriorating since 2019, resulting in one of the largest population displacements in the history of South America. An estimated 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014.

The 2024 elections in Venezuela attracted worldwide attention in a context of economic difficulties and political instability. Despite a tense atmosphere and initiatives to ensure electoral fairness, the government maintained a dominant position, casting doubt on the integrity of the electoral process, which Mr Maduro won with around 58% of the vote. Opposition leaders and international observers were extremely sceptical about the result.

Lastly, the improvement in certain macroeconomic indicators between 2022 and 2023 did not lead to an improvement in the population's living conditions. Venezuelans remain very vulnerable and many still fall below the poverty line. The situation remains precarious and, according to forecasts, by the end of 2024 there will be around 6.82 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, 4.71 million of whom will need humanitarian aid.

Number of HI staff: 33

Programmed opened in: 2019

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