Venezuela
2021-05 Factsheet
May 2021
Jun 2021 > IOM, 2021
Highlights
- By the end of May 2021, 267,886 individuals (55% female and 45% male) benefited from better access to safe shelter, energy and non-food items (NFIs) in 12 states and Capital District. Cluster partners activities were focused on the community level benefiting 32 health centers and 22 community centers, and also impacted 22 temporary shelters (collective centers). Activities to improve access to energy included the installation of 110 street solar lamps in public places and 15 systems to enhance access to electricity, improvement of shelter conditions comprised the installation of 86 refugee housing units, and distribution of basic NFIs for 43,223 individuals including people on the move, people affected by flooding and returnees from conflict situations.
- The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMEH by its Spanish acronym) estimated that rains will be above the average of past years and that rainy season will last until July. Rainfalls could generate floods in prioritized communities affecting individual shelters and basic NFIs.
- An online training session on solar energy applications including solar water pumping was organised in late May for partner organizations. The session was attended by 52 participants, including organisations from WASH and Food Security Clusters. Efforts to strengthen partners capacities will continue, including issues that can be addressed with an intersectoral approach.
- As of 31 May, authorities confirmed 15,879 active COVID-19 cases. Active cases tended to increase during the last weeks of May, which led to restricting movements in Zulia including hour limits and only activities in prioritized economic sectors during a flexible week.
- During May, the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster´s national coordination team participated in a field mission with two partner organizations (a national and international NGO) during monitoring and Accountability to Affected Populations activities with a community benefited from NFI distributions in Caracas. The Cluster will organize similar missions with implementing partners to strengthen communication with partners, identify challenges and promote good practices among members.
NFI
Shelter
Need analysis
- Reportedly, dynamics of human mobility including outflows, pendular movements and returns, remain through Venezuelan border with changes associated with political-social events and movements restrictions in border states. Limited access to essential services (electricity, water, internet connection and communications) has affected the functioning of temporary shelter arrangements (collective centres) in border states. Supporting the network of temporary shelters with NFIs and repairs in border areas to guarantee a safe and dignified spaces for persons in situation of human mobility remains a priority.
- During May, heavy rains have been registered nationwide generating the overflowing of rivers and floods in prioritized areas of Apure and Zulia. Communities have been affected with damages in individual shelters and the loss of basic NFI and equipment. Likewise, floods impact access to other services such as water and health that can produce infectious diseases. It is a priority to generate action plans with an intersectoral approach to address the needs of the affected population.
Response
- By May 2021, 267,886 individuals have been reached by Energy, Shelter and NFI activities (55% female and 45% male) in 12 states and the Capital District. The states covering the higher number of beneficiaries have been Sucre, Táchira, La Guaira, Miranda, Bolívar, Mérida and Apure.
- The partners response in Venezuela has comprised most of the interventions at the community level. Focusing on the needs coming from COVID-19 emergency, 32 health centers have been benefited from the partners actions combining access to energy, shelter and critical NFIs availability. 22 community centers providing protection and essential services to population and 22 temporary collective centers have also been benefited by the response.
- Activities to improve access to energy has addressed the limitations in access to national electric system through renewable sources of energy. Response has included the installation of 110 street solar lamps in public places and 15 systems, including photovoltaic systems in institutions, organizations, community centers and collective shelters. As a result, 89,009 individuals have been benefited by improved access to energy.
- Actions to improve shelter conditions in community centers have included the installation of 86 refugee housing units (RHUs). 32 RHUs have been installed to expand and create triage areas and quarantine zones in health centres preventing the spread of COVID-19, 22 in collective temporary shelters, and 32 have benefited community spaces, centers and institutions, communities and other locations.
- Action has been taken to improve access to basic NFIs for the most vulnerable population benefiting 43,223 people both individually and through community centers and institutions. Response on access to basic NFIs has comprised the delivery of 2,121 solar lamps and has addressed vulnerable persons, including people on the move, and specifically returnees from conflict situation in Apure, and people affected by flooding, benefited from family, habitat and individual kits.
Gaps / challenges
- In Apure region, security has been a limitation for humanitarian activity. Some organizations had to pause their activities due to the clashes between the Venezuelan Armed Forces and other armed groups in the area.
- COVID-19 has continued to generate limitations for partner organization interventions. Reported increases in COVID-19 cases and mobility restrictions have affected the implementation schedules for partner organizations.
- Fuel shortages at the national level have continued to affect the implementation of activities of organizations. Negotiations are in place with authorities at the subnational level to overcome this challenge.
- There is a challenge at the subnational level, specifically in Bolivar state, to identify new organizations that can become active contributors for Shelter, Energy and NFI.
- Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2021 has not been yet published. This has a negative impact on access to funding for partner organizations and its implementing capacity.
