Venezuela
2022-06 Factsheet - Venezuela
June 2022
Jul 2022 > UNHCR, 2022
Highlights
- By the end of June, the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster reached 25,715 direct beneficiaries through partner organizations and 76,725 indirect beneficiaries through interventions in institutions and community spaces providing essential services to population. Activities covered 16 states and Capital District. As key figures for the response, 34 spaces delivering essential services to communities were built and rehabilitated and 86 received NFIs; 4 Refugee Housing Units (RHUs), 36 street solar lamps and 24 systems to generate energy were installed. Also, 4,035 portable solar lamps and 1,786 habitat kits were delivered directly for the most vulnerable population, 2282 individual kits were provided for people on the move, and 7,424 people occupied temporary collective shelters.
- During June, the country cluster team generated the new cluster strategy for 2022-2023 with inputs of several partner organizations – collected during workshops and online tools. The document was approved by the SAG and integrates four pillars: 1) support the network of temporary shelters; 2) strengthen capacities of communities and institutions; 3) improve conditions, services, protection and right to shelter – including HLP issues; and 4) support the relevant authorities during disaster occurrence. Also, the strategy includes key issues such as the intersectoral approach in the response, Humanitarian-Development Nexus, CBIs, environmental impact, and others. The document is available in this link.
- During the reporting period, the cluster organized a workshop to strengthen capabilities on the Sphere Handbook and its quality standards for shelter response, with the participation of 21 partner organizations. The training was given by the Sphere focal point for Venezuela and had a component on disaster risk management, including a simulation of extreme weather events.
- The Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) was renewed for the 2022-2023 period with two UN Agencies and three national NGOs as part of the group including UNHCR, IOM, TECHO, Fundación Vivienda Popular, Caritas Venezuela, and ICRC as observer. The first meeting was held to approve the new cluster strategy, establish a balance of the group in the previous period, and stablish a work plan related to the contributions of the different participants in the group for the cluster action plan defined during the CCPM process.
- The first allocation strategy of the Venezuelan Humanitarian Fund for 2022 was stablished with a focus on: a) adolescents and young people in vulnerable situations who require a process of reintegration into the educational system, support in the generation of livelihoods and/or protection services, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health; and b) survivors of any form of violence, including women, LGBTI people, victims of trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation, survivors of gender-based violence, especially associated with human mobility; through the provision and strengthening of protection and/or health services and the generation of livelihoods. The partner organizations submitted a total of 21 projects, of which 7 have a shelter, energy and NFI component. The strategic and technical review will take place during July.
NFI
Shelter
Need analysis
- Reportedly, during the second quarter of 2022, the number of people on the move increased in official border crossings with a growing trend of people returning to Venezuela mainly on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Some statements from National Authorities affirmed that over 340,700 Venezuelan returned without specifying the period of time or countries of origin. The response to support people on the move, specifically to possible flows of returns and pendular movements, represents new humanitarian needs: better access to way stations and temporary shelters on main routes during the displacement; as well as access to basic services such as electricity and energy for cooking in host communities.
- From April to June, extreme weather events such as heavy rains and flooding, affected the country nationwide with a differentiated impact in most vulnerable areas and communities specially in Zulia, Táchira, and Amazonas, while other states remained on alert due to the increase in the level of rivers. Although in some entities there were no major impacts, in other areas such as the South of Lake (Zulia) families lost their homes and NFIs, and the flooding of more than 12,000 hectares of agricultural production was reported. National authorities have forecasted that, due to La Niña, the period of rains and other meteorological events will last until November, which generates the need to support government institutions in preparation and contingency plans for disasters, specifically with the strengthening of temporary shelters and the prepositioning of NFI stocks for emergencies.
Response
- By the end of June 2022 25,715 direct beneficiaries were reached by Shelter, Energy and NFI activities (53% female and 47% male) in 16 states and the Capital District. The states covering the highest number of direct beneficiaries were Táchira, Zulia, Apure, Miranda and Amazonas. Also, by interventions in institutions and other spaces providing essential services to population, the actions from organizations have reached indirectly 76,725 people of concern.
- As part of the Shelter Response, 34 spaces providing essential services to population were built and rehabilitated. 20 schools were rehabilitated in Apure and Miranda States; 6 community centers in Miranda, Barinas and Apure; 3 health centers in Portuguesa, Miranda and Barinas; 2 temporary collective shelter in Portuguesa and Barinas; 2 community spaces in Apure and Carabobo; and 1 coordination authority center in Capital District. Also 4 RHUs were installed in a school in an indigenous community in Amazonas state.
- 7,625 people were directly benefited by the Shelter response, of which 7,424 occupied temporary collective shelters in Táchira, Apure, Zulia and Sucre states and 161 received a set of trainings on safe construction practices to contribute to the sustainability of shelter interventions in Zulia communities.
- Activities to improve access to Energy included the installation of 36 street solar lamps in communities, community centers and schools in Miranda and Carabobo State. 24 systems to generate electricity were installed in spaces to benefit the population of interest in Apure, Zulia Portuguesa and Táchira. 48 portable solar lamps for spaces providing essential services to vulnerable population were installed in Apure, Bolívar, Táchira, Amazonas and Miranda. 81 people were directly benefited from energy interventions receiving trainings on alternative energy.
- Regarding access to basic NFIs, 18,009 individuals were benefited directly by distributions of NFIs including 2,282 individual kits delivered for people in mobility in Táchira state, 1,786 habitat kits, including the assistance of vulnerable indigenous population and people affected by natural disasters, 4,035 portable solar lamps delivered directly to vulnerable people to mitigate protection risks, including 1678 for response to disasters and emergencies. 86 community spaces and institutions received NFI to provide services to population in need.
- In the states of Miranda, Zulia and Barinas, part of the response with NFIs was associated with the preparation and response to disasters caused by recent floods, and included the direct distribution of 1678 portable solar lamps, plastic sheeting, mats, kitchen sets, as well as the distribution for Civil Protection of non-food items such as mattresses, sheets, rechargeable flashlights, linens, garbage bags, among others.
Gaps / challenges
- Until June, 7% of the target population established for the year had been reached, which represents a low implementation rate comparing with previous year. Partners organizations have indicated that the delay in HRP 2022-2023 publication, funding mobilization and access are the main causes that limit the implementation of projects. It is expected that during the second half of the year, after the publication of the HRP, the number of people benefiting from the shelter, energy and NFI response will increase.
- Even though, a vast portion of humanitarian needs identified during the second quarter were generated due to extreme weather events, the immediate response capacity of partners to these disasters continues to be limited. Over the next few months, an intersectoral Technical Working Group focused on disaster risk management will be created to strengthen response capacities and promote better coordination.
