Global Humanitarian Overview 2025

Latin America and the Caribbean

People in Need
34.4 million
People Targeted
15.7 million
Requirements (US$)
$3.6 billion

Regional overview

In 2025, 34.4 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean will need humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 38.9 million in 2024. The region continues to face challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and economic instability. Humanitarian partners have identified 15.7 million people for targeted support, requiring $3.6 billion across six response plans and one regional refugee and migrant response plan. Key priorities include addressing food insecurity, climate-related disasters, displacement, and violence. Although funding coverage improved slightly to 35 percent in 2024, gaps remain, with coverage varying widely between 18 and 56 per cent across plans.

Despite decades of poverty reduction, 181 million people—29 per cent of the region’s population—still live below the poverty line. Climate events such as El Niño and La Niña are only amplifying regional hardships, especially in the Central American Dry Corridor and across South America and the Caribbean. Unpredictable weather patterns—from severe droughts to intense rainfall— are disrupting agriculture, threatening food supplies and increasing the risks of diseases like dengue. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has already seen 17 named storms as of mid-November. Beryl, the earliest Category 4 storm ever recorded, struck Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica in July. Cuba is still reeling from Hurricane Oscar, which affected thousands in the east, only to be followed within weeks by major Hurricane Rafael in the west.

El Salvador

Morazán Sur, El Salvador

Residents of Morazán Sur receive support to counter the drought’s impact on food insecurity through Anticipatory Action projects led by humanitarian partners and the Salvadoran Government, with OCHA’s coordination.

Civil Protection of El Salvador

Nearly 41 million people in the region are undernourished, with 5.73 million people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras alone suffering from moderate to severe food insecurity. El Niño-induced droughts in South America and heavy rainfall in Central America and the Caribbean are expected to continue through 2025, exacerbating food insecurity, especially in the Caribbean, where hunger rates are three times higher than in Latin America. Record-high cases of dengue—more than 11.7 million by late 2024, with 6,650 related deaths, mostly in South America— are further burdening health systems.

Despite reductions in key migration figures due to changes in policy and enforcement, humanitarian needs related to mass population movements continue to rise. Irregular entries into Panama and Honduras have declined significantly in 2024, with numbers falling from 408,972 and 445,175 during the same period in 2023 to 263,296 and 340,848, respectively. However, mixed migration flows continue to strain transit countries and communities with limited resources and high protection needs. Many who cross these countries continue northwards, with the United States reporting 2.1 million migrant encounters in 2024 - down from 2.47 million in 2023.

Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Local organizations in Haiti are supporting a growing number of survivors of gender-based violence. Here, a psychologist from the NGO OFAVA holds the baby of a young survivor.

OCHA/Véronique Durroux

The region’s homicide rate—around 20 per 100,000 people, almost three times the global average—reflects the pervasive impact of violent crime and armed group activity, with approximately 117,492 murders in 2023. Gender-based violence, particularly femicide, remains critical; in Honduras, for example, femicide rates reach 6.0 per 100,000 women, four times the global average.

In 2025, humanitarian efforts aim to reach 13.5 million people across Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on life-saving assistance and protection services in vulnerable areas. In Central America, response priorities include food insecurity and support to communities affected by high levels of human mobility. Increased violence—from criminal violence in Central America to armed group activity in Haiti and conflict in Colombia—continues to drive displacement, limit access to services, and increase protection risks. In Venezuela, efforts will focus on strengthening basic services, supporting livelihoods and building resilience amid ongoing economic challenges. Together, these tailored responses address the region’s urgent needs, where intersecting crises demand sustained support.

Colombia

Chocó, Colombia

The Afro-Colombian community of San Miguel in Chocó continues to face humanitarian challenges from confinement and forced displacement due to ongoing conflict.

OCHA/Johana Botia

Colombia

People in Need
9.0 million
People Targeted
2.0 million
Requirements (US$)
$342.0 million
Total population
52.3 million
Income level
Upper middle income
INFORM Severity Index
5 / Very high
Consecutive appeals
2020 - 2025

Crisis overview

Humanitarian and protection needs have increased in Colombia in the last year, particularly in the Pacific and border regions, due to ongoing armed conflict, climate-related disasters, and the rising influx of refugees and migrants. Despite Colombia's renewed dedication to peace through the Total Peace policy, challenges remain, including mixed progress in negotiation tables with Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs), a complex legal landscape, and the cessation of some ceasefire agreements. Consequently, clashes among NSAGs vying for control over territory and resources continue to drive massive needs, resulting in forced displacement and community confinement.

Colombia currently faces eight non-international armed conflicts. NSAGs presence has expanded in recent years, and they are now present or controlling in 55 per cent of Colombia’s municipalities, affecting at least 9.3 million people (71 per cent of the country’s rural population). NSAGs-imposed social control measures, such as targeted homicides, mobility restrictions, and interference with access to essential services like healthcare, further exacerbate the vulnerabilities of rural communities, and increasingly impact urban communities. Adding to these challenges, climate variability and frequent disasters have worsened conditions, affecting over 1.7 million people in 2024 alone.

The humanitarian landscape is further compounded by increasing internal displacement and mixed movements of both refugees and migrants, which stretch local response capacities to critical limits. Colombia ranks among the top four countries globally for internally displaced persons, with over 6.9 million people affected by conflict-related displacement. Additionally, nearly 3 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants reside in Colombia, while thousands more attempt the perilous Darién Gap crossing toward Central and North America. The Interagency Group on Mixed Migration Flows (GIFMM, in Spanish) reported a 110 per cent increase in the number of people crossing the Darien in 2023, exacerbating vulnerabilities. During the first half of 2024 this trend continues, with a noticeable decrease beginning in the second half. This region, controlled by NSAGs, exposes migrants and refugees to serious protection risks, such as trafficking and exploitation, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian and protection efforts.

Colombia

Dibulla, La Guajira, Colombia

A Wiwa woman participates in a humanitarian response evaluation for her community amid an emergency.

OCHA/Ibeth Pinedo

In 2025, 13.5 million people (25 per cent of Colombia's total population) are projected to face protection and humanitarian needs, including 9 million people affected by conflict and disasters and 4.5 million refugees and migrants. Over 13 million people currently face food insecurity, compounded by recurring flood and drought events. Vulnerable groups, especially rural populations in conflict-affected areas, are among the hardest hit, bearing the cumulative effects of armed conflict, food insecurity, and inadequate access to healthcare and essential services.

The situation is further complicated by restricted humanitarian access. Over the past two years, NSAGs have intensified pressure on humanitarian actors, including retentions and demands for financial extortion, particularly in remote, hard-to-reach areas where state presence is limited, and access is most critical. These emerging obstacles affect the continuity of life-saving support to communities in need.

Given the multidimensional nature of Colombia’s protection and humanitarian crisis, a cohesive, integrated response framework is essential. The priority sectors—protection, food security and nutrition, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)—require coordinated support to provide sustainable, community-driven assistance. Strengthening partnerships between national and international actors, including related to development, will be vital to addressing Colombia’s complex needs and building resilience among its most vulnerable communities.

Colombia

San Miguel, Chocó, Colombia

Afro-Colombian residents affected by an armed strike gather in confinement, seeking relief from the ongoing crisis.

OCHA/Johana Botia

Response priorities in 2025

Colombia's Community Priorities Response Plan (CPRP) serves as a strategic foundation for humanitarian action in 2024 and 2025, driving a cohesive, community-centered approach. Key milestones in 2024 included strengthened collaboration between the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Colombian Government, the expansion of HCT presence to new areas affected by conflict, the establishment of the Colombia Humanitarian Fund, and the successful rollout of integrated multi-agency initiatives under the CERF allocation. By October 2024, these coordinated efforts had reached 967,006 people with humanitarian assistance from a targeted population of 1.7 million.

For 2025, the CPRP builds on the three-tier strategy developed in 2024 but with some adjustments. The response will target two million people in need across 133 municipalities (25 per cent of 3-5 severity areas) classified as having critical severity levels (4 and 5). This response will continue to focus on areas with the highest need with the presence of NSAGs and in municipalities where state presence and capacity are limited. The response will continue to focus on the most vulnerable populations including children, women and ethnic groups. Within these areas, HCT has adopted three core response pillars:

  1. Emergency response in high-risk areas: The 2025 response will prioritize communities heavily impacted by conflict, disasters, and displacement, with a focus on regions with limited state presence, active NSAG influence, and newly emerging areas of violence. The objective is to provide life-saving aid and mitigate protection risks for highly vulnerable populations, including ethnic groups, women, and children.
  2. Proactive prevention and preparedness: In response to increasing climate variability and recurring natural disasters, the HCT will bolster anticipatory action and preparedness mechanisms, particularly in areas projected to be affected by El Niño or La Niña and other climate events. This includes scaling predictive analysis and integrating these insights into local response plans, empowering communities with resources and knowledge to withstand and recover from future shocks.
  3. Transition to sustainable development through nexus programming: To create sustainable impacts, the HCT will enhance coordination between humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development actors. This approach focuses on stabilizing communities by promoting food security, climate resilience, and access to services, aligning response efforts with the Government of Colombia’s long-term development goals, including at territorial level.
Aid in Action

Progress in the Flagship Initiative

Colombia
Vereda Charras, Colombia
Members of the Nukak indigenous community gather for a participatory resilience assessment, focusing on strengthening community involvement.
OCHA/Andrea Rodríguez

In its second year of implementing the Flagship Initiative, Colombia has achieved significant progress in enhancing community engagement, area-based coordination, territorial planning, integrated programming, and localization.

A key highlight of 2024 has been the strong focus on community engagement. HCT partners reported that 45 per cent of humanitarian activities involved community consultations prior to implementation. Furthermore, 45 per cent of response efforts were adjusted based on community feedback, and 43 per cent included ongoing consultations during the implementation phase. This level of engagement has not only enhanced the relevance and effectiveness of interventions, but also strengthened trust and accountability between humanitarian actors and communities. Efforts are underway to ensure these approaches are adopted consistently by all partners.

The 16 local coordination teams in Colombia have reinforced area-based coordination by developing joint territorial response plans. These plans unite the HCT, the Refugee and Migrant Platform, local authorities, community representatives, and local NGOs to identify key response priorities based on community-expressed needs. Further, three innovative prototypes were co-designed and launched in La Guajira, Guaviare, and Buenaventura, focusing on tailored solutions developed collaboratively with local stakeholders.

Additionally, the HCT has reinforced localization efforts by identifying over 240 local organizations, gradually integrating them into humanitarian coordination mechanisms. The newly established Colombia Humanitarian Fund will support these organizations, with 23 qualifying for fund eligibility in the first allocation. This initiative empowers national and community leaders, including those from indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations, ensuring the sustainability of humanitarian assistance.

A key innovation in the 2025 planning framework is the establishment of 16 integrated territorial response plans, collaboratively developed by the HCT, the GIFMM, and the 16 local coordination teams, with enhanced participation and contributions from community representatives and local actors. These plans embody a community-centered, bottom-up approach that prioritizes local needs and builds stronger community ownership and participation. By embedding community priorities into the response strategy, these plans aim to strengthen localized decision-making and deepen community engagement across all sectors.

In addition, the plans have highlighted 36 priority communities where HCT members will coordinate their efforts for maximum impact. The multisectoral response strategy focuses on building community resilience, promoting localized solutions, and fostering durable solutions that pave the way for long-term stability and recovery. This approach reflects a continued commitment from the HCT to align humanitarian efforts with local capacities and priorities, ensuring that assistance is both responsive to and sustainable within each community.

As we look at 2025, significant risks include continued access restrictions, potential escalations in armed conflict, and climate variability impacts. To mitigate these risks, the HCT will focus on flexible response mechanisms, strengthen partnerships with local organizations, and engage with all stakeholders to ensure community safety and sustained humanitarian access. The HCT will also prioritize context-sensitive resource allocation and enhance inter-agency collaboration, essential for maintaining response capacity amid shifting circumstances.

Aid in Action

Best practices and advances in localization

Colombia
Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia
Discussion session in rural Ciénaga with local institutions to assess the humanitarian impact of clashes between non-state armed groups on the Kogui Indigenous community.
OCHA/Gonzalo Galezo

In 2024, Colombia's Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) launched its first-ever localization strategy, targeting five key areas to empower local actors and bolster community resilience. The initiative began with a comprehensive mapping of 240 active local and national humanitarian NGOs across the country. To foster collaboration, a national localization working group was established to coordinate activities among partners.

At the local level, national organizations have been integrated into 16 local coordination teams, enriching decision-making and promoting dialogue. In regions like Nariño and Norte de Santander, community-based organization subgroups have been formed to amplify community voices and align humanitarian priorities with community needs. This approach not only addresses immediate humanitarian challenges but also lays the groundwork for long-term resilience and recovery.

To strengthen local capacities, efforts are underway to forge linkages between local and national NGOs and capacity-building opportunities. The new Colombian Humanitarian Fund, part of the Regional Pooled Fund in Latin America and the Caribbean, now provides direct financial support to national NGOs, ensuring humanitarian responses tailored to community needs.

A standout achievement has been the active participation of women-led community organizations in disaster response. In Sucre, women utilize social media platforms such as WhatsApp to disseminate vital information about weather patterns, educational opportunities, and community meetings. Their leadership in forming community risk management committees has markedly improved emergency response strategies.

Moreover, local organizations have partnered with municipal administrations to strengthen disaster risk management, devising strategies to cope with flooding and its impact on agriculture. Supported by the Adaptation Fund, these initiatives underscore the women’s essential role in resilience-building, as they promote and market local products such as sugar cane and cocoa, supporting both immediate recovery and long-term economic stability for their communities.

Financial requirements

The financial planning framework continues to employ a project-based methodology to outline the financial requirements for 2025. Notable changes have been made to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of these requirements. The HCT has introduced differentiated financial needs for multipurpose cash assistance in recognition of the increasing demand for flexible, direct support, enabling vulnerable populations to address their immediate and specific needs.

New criteria have been established for cluster leaders during the project review phase to promote localization and ensure that financial requirements are realistic and aligned with the humanitarian realities in Colombia. Cluster partners are encouraged to formulate projects based on the territorial plans developed by local HCTs, which fosters a more coherent bottom-up approach to humanitarian programming. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on increasing the participation of local NGOs in project submissions and encouraging the development of multisectoral initiatives as part of localization efforts.

For 2025, the total financial requirement has been set at $342 million, reflecting a difference of 111 per cent compared to 2024. This increase is driven by the escalating impacts of armed conflict, the rising frequency of climate-related disasters, and the growing displacement of vulnerable populations.

This heightened financial need underscores the critical importance of sustained and flexible funding. Such funding is essential for both immediate life-saving interventions and long-term recovery efforts, in alignment with the Flagship Initiative. Moreover, it highlights the necessity for efficient resource allocation to ensure a responsive humanitarian approach that effectively addresses Colombia's evolving needs in 2025. The newly established Colombia Humanitarian Fund, which seeks to promote local actors as primary responders is a critical instrument to that end.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

As of October 2024, humanitarian assistance reached 967,006 individuals across 31 departments and 375 municipalities, reflecting the HCT’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations. HCT has successfully provided complementary assistance to 62 per cent of humanitarian emergencies, demonstrating a proactive approach to meeting urgent needs.

Response

The response has primarily focused on the Pacific region and border areas, particularly targeting the needs of women, children, and ethnic communities. A significant portion of the response was directed toward critical sectors, such as food security, health and protection.

CERF

To enhance coordination and the complementarity of actions, the CERF allocation was used to pilot integrated responses among various actors in 28 hard-to-reach communities in conflict affected areas. Valuable lessons learned from these initiatives are now being promoted as a guiding principle for all HCT interventions.

Localization

In our efforts to advance localization, 72 national NGOs have been integrated into the HCT at various levels, expanding total membership to 215—with national NGOs now constituting 52 per cent of this coalition. This collaboration is vital for ensuring that humanitarian responses are not only reflective of local needs but also promote an agenda of efficiency and sustainability.

Consequences of inaction

The humanitarian situation in Colombia continues to be exacerbated by escalating armed conflict and the rising influence of non-state armed groups (NSAGs). The consequences of inaction will manifest in two critical areas:

Underfunding

Insufficient resources significantly hinder essential activities, undermining both immediate humanitarian efforts and the promotion of solutions for vulnerable populations. Funding requirements for 2024 reveal a 44 per cent gap, leaving 51 per cent of the targeted individuals without support, while 73 per cent of the projects outlined in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) were underfunded. Additionally, inadequate funding for 2025 threatens the flagship initiative, aimed at empowering communities and enhancing resilience, which has been ongoing since 2023.

Access constraints

In 2024, 158 municipalities faced significant access challenges, preventing the implementation of 92 humanitarian activities in hard-to-reach areas. If proactive measures are not taken, remote regions under NSAG influence will remain inaccessible. The rising incidence of attacks on aid workers and facilities further complicates these challenges, jeopardizing the effectiveness and safety of humanitarian operations.

The cost of inaction jeopardizes the immediate well-being of vulnerable populations. Without necessary funding and access initiatives, the humanitarian response will be unable to adequately address the critical needs of those most affected by ongoing crises.

El Salvador

People in Need
818,700
People Targeted
407,500
Requirements (US$)
$66.9 million
Total population
6.4 million
Income level
Upper middle income
INFORM Severity Index
4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2021 - 2025

Crisis overview

El Salvador is grappling with a humanitarian crisis characterized by compounding threats of extreme weather events, human mobility, and persistent food insecurity, worsened by global economic pressures and rising inflation.

The humanitarian analysis focused on the main shocks – climate-induced events and human mobility—and accounts for a reduction in the number of people in need of assistance compared to last year, with 818,700 people identified for the 2025 Humanitarian Programme Cycle.

The country's vulnerability to climate-driven disruptions remains high. The transition from El Niño to La Niña has led to erratic climate patterns, with a severe drought in 2023 followed by intense rains in 2024, pushing food insecurity rates upward. Currently 0.9 per cent of households face severe food scarcity, with many others moderately food insecure. These environmental shifts not only reduce crop yields but also strain rural communities reliant on agriculture for survival and now burdened by inflation-driven rising living costs.

El Salvador

Candelaria de la Frontera, El Salvador

Nora, 56, visits the cacao plantation of Rosario, 48, as part of a local women’s group collaborating in the community. Rosario, a group leader, dreams of creating a biofertilizer factory involving local women. With a cooperative now established, they plan to process their own cacao harvest themselves, adding value and boosting income compared to selling unprocessed seeds.

UN Women

Human mobility is another major driver of humanitarian needs in El Salvador. As both a country of origin and transit for migrants, El Salvador has seen thousands of people leaving in search of economic stability and better living conditions. From January to August 2024 alone, US border officials encountered over 30,000 Salvadorans at their southern border, many of them families and unaccompanied children. Returns have also surged, with a 35.8 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023, adding strain to communities already struggling with poverty and limited social services. This high mobility has left an estimated 95,000 children without one or both parents, further fraying a social fabric already weakened by poverty and scarce resources.

Response priorities in 2025

In 2025, the humanitarian community aims to assist 407,500 of El Salvador’s most vulnerable people–about 49 per cent of those in need—requiring $66.9 million. The number of people in need has decreased slightly from 2024 due to a prioritized analysis of municipalities and milder-than-expected impacts from the El Niño-induced drought. However, protection services for communities affected by human mobility remain critical.

The Humanitarian Response Plan is based on collectively identified shocks driving humanitarian needs: human mobility and adverse weather conditions. Planned activities will provide an intersectoral response, prioritizing food-insecure people and communities with continued protection needs. Response activities are designed to complement the country’s ongoing development projects and government efforts.

El Salvador

El Salvador

Vouchers are distributed to families living in shelters, who were impacted by rainstorms.

WFP/Versative/Diego Santamaria

Financial requirements

With an increased prioritized shock-based geographical focus, the financial requirements stand at $66.9 million, representing a 26 per cent reduction compared to 2024. The El Salvador HNRP is project-based, with food security and protection accounting for the highest amounts, aligning with the highest humanitarian needs in the country.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

In 2024, the humanitarian response, led by international and national NGOs alongside UN agencies, successfully assisted an estimated 86,500 people. This support included about 58,000 women and girls and was delivered in response to emergencies caused by drought, flooding, and human mobility. Key activities included:

Emergency shelter

Emergency shelter for 800 people affected by the rainy season, with construction packages provided to families.

Nutrition

Nutrition supplements, vitamins and screenings provided to 1,500 pregnant women and children under age 4 affected by climate events.

Protection

Protection services for more than 5,000 people in human mobility or at risk of displacement, including case management, training sessions, and cash deliveries.

Food security

Food security assistance for 44,000 vulnerable people facing deteriorated food and nutritional security.

Non-food items

Non-food items provided to over 4,000 people affected by the rainy season through the camp coordination and camp management sector.

Education

School materials and technical support for teachers provided by the Education sector ensured continued education for about 500 students.

Consequences of inaction

Education

The education sector received only 10.8 per cent of its requested budget, creating a $3.3 million funding gap that left over 56,600 children and adolescents without necessary support for socio-emotional well-being or to address learning losses.

Gender-Based Violence

The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sub-sector received no funding in 2024, leaving more than 66,000 women at risk of GBV in communities highly vulnerable to climate events and elevated rates of violence against women and girls, particularly among mobile populations.

Livelihood

In the Dry Corridor, over 25,000 El Niño affected families received no livelihood assistance, exacerbating their already precarious situation.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Approximately 30,000 people affected by climate variability and human mobility lacked access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, increasing their risk of waterborne diseases and inadequate hygiene practices.

El Salvador

El Salvador

Vouchers are distributed to families living in shelters, who were impacted by rainstorms.

WFP/Versative/Diego Santamaria

Guatemala

People in Need
2.2 million
People Targeted
1.2 million
Requirements (US$)
$101 million
Total population
18.4 million
Income level
Upper middle income
INFORM Severity Index
4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2021 - 2025

Crisis overview

Guatemala faces a complex humanitarian crisis driven by food insecurity, climate-induced crop failures, acute malnutrition, and increased human mobility, putting increasing pressure on vulnerable communities. The crisis stems from systemic poverty and is exacerbated by recent environmental and economic shocks, demanding urgent action to prevent further human suffering.

The humanitarian needs analysis targets areas most impacted by climate events and human mobility. This shock-based geographical approach has reduced the estimated number of people in need of assistance from last year, to 2.2 million people.

Guatemala’s food insecurity crisis affects millions, primarily due to prolonged droughts and disrupted agricultural cycles, especially in the Dry Corridor. In 2023, El Niño devastated crops–particularly maize, beans and other stapes–on 54,000 hectares, impacting 160 municipalities and 9.2 million people. As crop yields decline, families face rising food prices and shortages, worsening malnutrition, especially among young children. By October 2024, reports from the Food Security and Nutrition Secretariat, indicated 25,000 cases of acute malnutrition in children under five—21 percent classified as severe, and 50 associated deaths. The hardest-hit departments are Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, and San Marcos.

Currently, an estimated 2.9 million people face crisis (IPC Phase 3) and emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity, with nearly 386,000 people in Phase 4. In Alta Verapaz, nearly 34 per cent of the population experiences food insecurity, while people in other vulnerable regions including Huehuetenango, Quiché, and San Marcos, also struggle. The crisis creates a vicious cycle, as malnutrition increases susceptibility to illness, limits educational and work productivity and deepens poverty.

Guatemala

Quiché, Guatemala

UNICEF works to improve nutrition in the most vulnerable areas.

UNICEF

Between January and September 2024, IOM reported 223,000 people entering Guatemala, often concentrated in transit points like Tecún Umán on the Mexican border and Esquipulas near Honduras. This flow includes women and children, who face heightened risk of exploitation and trafficking. Guatemala's 2023 migration policy states in its first chapters, “in the last decade, Guatemala has gone from being essentially a country of origin of migrants, to being increasingly a territory of transit and return, and to a lesser extent, a place of destination.”

This convergence of crises calls for urgent global humanitarian support. Guatemala faces a critical need for food assistance, agricultural aid, and emergency nutrition programmes. Targeted interventions are essential for drought-affected communities, particularly in Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, and San Marcos, where food insecurity and malnutrition are acute. Immediate relief in these areas will be crucial to mitigating the risk of widespread health issues and potential malnutrition-related deaths.

There is also urgent need to protect and support the thousands of migrants and displaced people moving through Guatemala, who face severe physical, economic, and psychological hardships. Strengthening migration management, establishing safe transit points, and providing legal and social services for vulnerable people are essential to meeting these communities’ humanitarian needs.

Guatemala

Livingston, Guatemala

Amanda is part of the Community Protection Agents Network, an initiative born from a partnership between UNHCR, UN Women, and the Center for Research, Training, and Support for Women and Youth. This network empowers women and girls in rural Livingston to understand and exercise their rights.

UNHCR

Response priorities in 2025

In 2024, Guatemala's humanitarian response targeted the dual crises of food insecurity and human mobility, prioritizing immediate assistance to the most vulnerable. The multisectoral approach focused on key regions, including Alta Verapaz, Chiquimula, Escuintla, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Petén, Quiché and Jutiapa, along with strategic migration zones like Esquipulas, Ayutla, Malacatán, Flores, La Libertad, Guatemala City and Puerto Barrios. The response provided essential food aid, health services, and support for displaced and transient populations in these hard-hit areas.

In 2025, the response strategy will target approximately 60 municipalities of the 81 identified critical municipalities. This strategy is guided by two key objectives: delivering a coordinated, multisectoral response to the most affected municipalities, and ensuring cohesive humanitarian assistance. This approach, which avoids disparate efforts, aims to maximize impact for people grappling with food insecurity, malnutrition, and significant levels of human mobility.

The 2025 response plan sets geographic and demographic boundaries based on severity levels across affected regions. Of the 81 municipalities identified with severity level 3 and above, the 60 prioritized for the multisectoral support were chosen for their heightened vulnerability to food insecurity, climate-induced crop failures and substantial pressures from human mobility. Municipalities like Alta Verapaz and Huehuetenango, where malnutrition rates are critically high, remain central to food security interventions. Meanwhile, support for migration and displacement will concentrate on entry and transit municipalities of Ayutla, Esquipulas, and Guatemala City, which bear a substantial share of migrant flows. This targeted prioritization aims to deploy resources more effectively to areas most in need, optimizing limited funding allocations.

Guatemala

Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Health workers provide family consultations and distribute nutritional supplements to combat child malnutrition. In Guatemala, nearly half of children under age five suffer from chronic malnutrition, one of the highest rates globally.

PAHO/WHO

Financial requirements

With this prioritized, shock-based geographical focus, financial requirements stand at US$101 million, a reduction of 21 per cent compared to 2024. The target for this year’s HNRP is 1.2 million people, covering 57 per cent of the total people in need.

In Guatemala, the HNRP is project-based. Some sectors have raised their per-person funding costs to accommodate enhanced sector-specific assistance.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

Food security

The food security sector is responding with cash transfers, vouchers and food rations in prioritized municipalities. These measures have helped ensure food access for the most vulnerable families and provided economic resources to improve household living conditions. By the end of 2024, 209,871 people in need will be reached—89 per cent of whom live in hard-to-reach areas—with the majority from indigenous communities.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Between January to September 2024, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management cluster, through a UNHCR project, coordinated with six implementing partners, provided shelter solutions for 61,240 people across 12 collective shelters in strategic locations, including Esquipulas, Tecún Umán, Guatemala City, Flores, Huehuetenango, and Entre Rios. Shelter assistance was tailored to needs, offering stays from a single night to up to six-months, depending on the specific profile.

Nutrition

In 2024, within mixed migration flows, 1,875 children under 5 received comprehensive nutritional care, including supplementation, deworming, therapeutic zinc, caloric supplementation, and counseling for parents and caregivers.

Protection

Over 340,000 people received protection assistance in at least 189 municipalities in all 22 departments, supporting both Guatemalans and migrants within the country.

Nutrition

Nutrition services reached 13,583 people, including school-age children, adolescents, women of childbearing age–especially pregnant and lactating women—and men.

Education

800 educational kits were distributed to children in transit, while six host communities received scholarships, furniture, equipment, teaching resources and community libraries, benefiting 1,525 children (753 girls and 772 boys).

Consequences of inaction

Protection

As of October 2024, due to funding shortages, the protection sector reached only 230,297 people out of a targeted 810,000, leaving 579,703 people without essential support.

Nutrition

118,125 children under age five missed comprehensive nutrition care in both migration settings and areas of acute malnutrition, delaying identification and treatment of those in need.

Nutrition

A total of 378,705 women of childbearing age were not able to receive comprehensive maternal and child health and nutrition care due to insufficient funding.

Gender-based violence

Planned radio campaigns in four Mayan languages to raise awareness of gender-based violence risks and prevention during emergencies could not be broadcast due to funding shortages.

Haiti

People in Need
6.0 million
People Targeted
4.0 million
Requirements (US$)
$906.0 million
Total population
11.9 million
Income level
Lower middle income
INFORM Severity Index
4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2010 - 2025

Crisis overview

Haiti faces intense armed violence that disrupts daily life for millions, taking a severe toll on vulnerable people, particularly women and girls. Armed groups continue to launch indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the Ouest department, including the Metropolitan Area of Port-au-Prince (ZMPP) and the Artibonite department, causing death and widespread displacement. Across the country, nearly 703,000 people are now displaced–54 per cent of them women—an increase of 22 per cent since June. Desperately seeking safety, almost half of the displaced have moved to the Grand Sud, a relatively peaceful area, where host communities are feeling increased strain on social services.

Protection risks have multiplied. In the first half of 2024, OHCHR reported at least 3,661 people killed in Haiti—a sharp rise in violence from previous periods. Between January and July 2024, 4,487 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were reported, up 40 per cent from the same period in 2023. Much of this violence has concentrated in the West Department (including the ZMPP) and the Artibonite department.

Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Displaced families seek refuge in the abandoned Rex Medina theater downtown.

Giles Clarke

Food insecurity has deteriorated with 48 per cent of people in need of food assistance, up from 44 per cent in 2023. Approximately 6,000 people in the ZMPP face famine-like conditions, a situation not seen since 2022. Escalating violence by armed groups limits food supplies, raises transport costs and disrupts livelihoods, further eroding household purchasing power and access to essentials in some areas.

Access to basic social services has further declined. As of September, nearly 350,000 school-age children were displaced, with 160,000 of them affected by school closures in the Ouest and Artibonite departments. Nearly 1,000 schools have closed since mid-January due to insecurity. Only 24 per cent of health facilities are operational in the ZMPP, with the State University Hospital, Haiti’s largest public hospital, closed since March. Health centres in the Grand Sud struggle to meet increased demand from displaced people.

Forced repatriation of Haitians continues. From January to October, over 150,000 people were expelled from neighbouring countries. A new policy from the Dominican Republic, effective 2 October, now mandates weekly forced repatriation of 10,000 illegal migrants, accelerating this trend.

Haiti

Ounaminthe, Haiti

At a border shelter, a World Food Programme worker distributes food parcels to over 400 Haitians deported from the Dominican Republic earlier that day. Since March, the Dominican Republic authorities have ramped up deportations, sending back people who either fled violence or worked in menial jobs for years.

Giles Clarke

Response priorities in 2025

Haiti´s deep-rooted vulnerabilities stem from decades of under-investment in social services and chronic political instability, fueling armed violence and the near collapse of basic services. The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) boundaries were set by assessing acute needs linked to armed violence, forced displacement, epidemics and disasters. Populations targeted have borne the greatest impact of these shocks, and include internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities, people in areas controlled or influenced by armed groups, deported migrants, those in cholera and other epidemic hotspots, and those living in regions exposed to natural disasters.

Priority activities include providing food assistance to 3.4 million people, combining emergency and resilience-building efforts to prevent, mitigate and strengthen the capacity of vulnerable populations and offer sustainable solutions to prolonged food insecurity. The nutrition response will engage public and faith-based health institutions, as well as promote localization efforts, with community health workers (ASCP) and national NGOs detecting malnutrition, managing referrals, and promoting good household nutritional practices. Mobile clinics will operate in isolated or difficult-to-access areas, especially where displacement is high.

Haiti

Solino, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Malnutrition specialists from OCCED'H, a local partner of UNICEF, screen women, and children in one of Port-au-Prince’s most violent neighbourhoods. With street battles raging, access to baby food and natal healthcare is scarce and dangerous.

Giles Clarke

Support for survivors of sexual violence will include strengthening medical care and clinical management and temporary shelter access. Protection risk monitoring and reporting will continue, and grassroots community organizations will receive support to strengthen community protection and violence prevention. For children unable to attend school due to displacement or attacks on schools, efforts will prioritize restoring access to education.

The response will be specific to each context and sensitive to social tensions so as not to expose affected people to further risk. Displacement dynamics in ZMPP, where 63 per cent of displaced people live in sites, differ from other departments where most people stay with host families. A multisectoral approach will be taken in displacement sites as well as host families to maintain social cohesion and alleviate the burden on host communities.

Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A displaced woman shelters in a tent at the St Vincent School, now a site for mass displacement.

Giles Clarke

Financial requirements

Financial requirements stand at US$906 million, marking a 33 per cent increase from 2023. Every humanitarian indicator has worsened: half a million more people are displaced, the number of food insecure people has surged by 25 per cent, and every region analyzed faces either a Crisis (IPC 3) or Emergency (IPC 4) level situation. In IDP camps, 5 per cent of households are in IPC 5, the highest level of food insecurity. Displacement has sharply increased protection risks for women and children, including rampant GBV and enrolment into armed groups, particularly for children unable to go to school. Host families, increasingly the last resort option for people fleeing their homes, also need support as they struggle with limited resources and scant basic services.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

From January to July 2024, 1.9 million Haitians–42.5 per cent of the target population—received at least one form of humanitarian assistance.

Food security

Food security actors reached about 1.2 million people—48.4 per cent of the 2.5 million people targeted—through emergency food assistance, or cash transfer.

Shelter and NFIs

Nearly 100,000 people received emergency shelter kits and non-food items in 72 across sites.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

WASH partners provided millions of liters of water to 72,000 people, while cleaning and dredging efforts in Cité Soleil helped prevent flooding.

Health

Mobile clinics regularly visited 33 IDP sites, and humanitarian support to three hospitals in ZMPP increased their operational capacity. A focused cholera response significantly reduced suspected cases during the second quarter.

Consequences of inaction

Chronic underfunding, escalating multisectoral needs and exposure to shocks risk deepening vulnerabilities. Immediate international funding is crucial. Without additional resources:

Food insecurity

Food insecurity affecting 5.5 million people will worsen, pushing 2 million people already struggling to survive into famine.

Protection

Conditions in 117 displacement sites will deteriorate, heightening protection risks—particularly GBV—for women.

Child protection

A generation of out-of-school children risks forced recruitment, particularly the 500,000 living in areas controlled by armed groups.

Honduras

People in Need
1.6 million
People Targeted
0.8 million
Requirements (US$)
$138.0 million
Total population
10.8 million
Income level
Lower middle income
INFORM Severity Index
4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2021 - 2025

Crisis overview

Honduras faced a challenging year in 2024, as multiple humanitarian crises impacted millions across the country. Climate-driven food insecurity, widespread violence, a public health emergency, and significant challenges related to human mobility have stretched resources to their limits. In response, the National Humanitarian Forum has worked closely with the State to address these urgent needs. However, critical funding shortages threaten critical response areas, including services for gender-based violence.

For humanitarian planning, the analysis focused on areas affected by climate events, human mobility, and violence with humanitarian impacts. The shock-based analysis and regional prioritization account for the reduction in the number of people in need of assistance compared to the previous year. For the 2025 Humanitarian Programme Cycle, the partners have identified 1.6 million people in need.

Food and nutrition insecurity

Honduras is grappling with serious food insecurity crisis that threatens people in the most vulnerable regions. While there was a slight improvement from 2023, the food insecurity outlook remains dire due to climate-induced events. The 2024 hurricane season brought above-average rainfall, affecting southern and western Honduras, particularly the areas in the Dry Corridor, which are already suffering from drought and erratic rainfall patterns. Projections indicate that by the end of 2024, the food crisis will deepen, with an additional 474,000 people likely to fall into Crisis or Emergency food insecurity IPC levels. The regions of Choluteca, Valle, and south of Francisco Morazán face particularly high risks, with local populations experiencing severely limited food access.

Honduras

Ocotepeque, Honduras

In 2024, approximately 1.9 million Hondurans faced acute food insecurity, with 19 per cent of the population in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or higher. To mitigate the effects of droughts and other climate-related challenges, UN partners like the FAO have implemented anticipatory action programs, providing early support to vulnerable communities. UNHCR/Lucia Martínez

Human mobility, mixed migration and displacement

Human Mobility, Mixed Migration remain pressing issues in Honduras, a country of origin, transit, and return for many migrants and displaced people. Over 247,000 people have been displaced internally due to violence and poverty. As a transit country, Honduras has seen 325,270 migrants enter through its southeastern border by October 2024, with a large number of children among them. Many migrants enter through Danlí and Trojes, in the El Paraiso department bordering Nicaragua, creating a massive influx that has severely strained local and national resources. Conditions for migrants are perilous, with reports of increased gender-based violence, human trafficking, and exploitation along the route. The need for humanitarian support is mounting, especially given the high rate of unregistered entries, and the strain on available resources.

Public health crisis

The dengue epidemic, driven by climate shocks, has compounded challenges in Honduras, leading to a national health emergency. With 162,092 cases and 192 deaths as of October 2024, the disease has spread rapidly, particularly in regions with high migrant traffic. In June 2024, the government declared a health emergency to mobilize resources, but the healthcare system remains under-resourced. The ongoing rainy season has worsened infrastructure challenges and limited the availability of health services in some regions. Additionally, the rising threat of malaria, particularly in areas with high migrant populations, is complicating the response, underscoring the urgent need for healthcare resources and preventive measures.

Escalating violence and displacement

Despite a slight drop in the national homicide rate, violence continues to drive significant humanitarian needs in Honduras. The first half of 2024 recorded over 200 missing persons cases, with June alone reporting a record 30 disappearances. Gender-based violence (GBV) is particularly widespread and is one of the main drivers of forced displacement. Reports indicate an average of two violent deaths of children every 24 hours, while incidents of forced recruitment and exploitation of minors have increased. Services for GBV remain severely under-resourced, with only 1.8 per cent of the minimum requirement funded in 2024. This funding gap has forced geographic prioritization of services, leaving many regions without adequate support.

Prior to publication of the GHO, Honduras was affected by Tropical Storm Sara which brought extensive rain to the northern Atlantic part of the country. Needs assessments are ongoing and might lead to a revision of the needs for 2025.

Honduras

Danlí, Honduras

In 2024, record numbers of migrants and asylum seekers passing through Honduras strained local resources. In response, humanitarian partners, NGOs, and authorities provided essential support.

UNHCR/Lucia Martinez

Response priorities in 2025

In 2024, Honduras's humanitarian response sought to address the crises of food insecurity, violence and human mobility, focusing on immediate assistance to the most vulnerable populations. Through a multisectoral approach, interventions spanned key regions, including areas of entry, transit and exit for people on the move (south-east, central and western zone), such as the Gracias a Dios department (indigenous population in la Mosquitia) in the Dry Corridor (south-west) and the Sula Valley (North Atlantic area). This response provided essential food assistance, health services, and support for displaced and migrants in these hard-hit areas.

The ongoing crises in the country, including human mobility, climate related disasters—droughts and floods, El Niño phenomenon—and violence, continue to exacerbate the humanitarian needs of almost 16 per cent of the population. This figure results from qualitative and quantitative analyses conducted by humanitarian actors in coordination with state institutions at both national and local levels.

The 2025 response strategy will maintain its focus on identified priority areas, concentrating on approximately 114 municipalities among the 157 initially identified as being affected by at least one of the 3 shocks included in the analysis. This strategy aims to protect and save the lives of people affected by violence, human mobility, and climate-induced disasters. It will provide inter-sectoral humanitarian assistance while integrating protection, age, gender, and diversity approaches to maximize impact and avoid fragmented efforts.

Honduras

Izaguirre, Honduras.

Situated around a large ravine, Izaguirre’s informal neighborhoods face constant threats from erosion, landslides, flooding, and other forms of urban disaster risk. Heavy rains can send homes tumbling down unstable slopes or submerge them under debris, while the river running through the ravine often overflows, washing away entire houses. Some residents take to removing dirt that continually falls from the steep hills towering over their unprotected homes. With minimal infrastructure, inadequate housing, limited access to water and electricity, and the added challenge of territorial control by gangs in some areas, Izaguirre remains a highly vulnerable community.

OCHA/Marc Belanger

To set boundaries for the 2025 response, geographic and demographic prioritization was implemented based on severity levels across affected regions. Key municipalities were selected where people are facing food insecurity, climate-induced crop failures, violence, and significant pressures from high levels of human mobility. People in selected municipalities in the Dry Corridor and Gracias a Dios (La Mosquitia) will remain at the core of food security interventions. Additionally, people in the municipalities of Santa Bárbara, Cortés, Atlántida and Yoro, facing the dual impact of violence and floods have also been prioritized. Support for migration and displacement will focus on entry, transit and exit municipalities in El Paraíso (Trojes, Danlí, El Paraíso), Francisco Morazán and Ocotepeque (Ocotepeque and Santa Fé), which bear a substantial share of the migrant flow.

This prioritization approach enables a more targeted deployment of resources to the most in need areas, enhancing the efficiency of limited funding allocations.

The implementation of the response strategy requires maximum support and coordination with national authorities to ensure humanitarian access to the most vulnerable populations and to promote an operational environment that facilitates and protects humanitarian actions.

Honduras

Tornabé, Honduras

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Sara, followed by a cold front, caused sudden flooding along much of Honduras’ Caribbean coast, including Tornabé, a predominantly Garifuna community of Afro-descendant Indigenous people. Nestled between a lagoon and the ocean, Tornabé faces a dual flood threat exacerbated by poor drainage infrastructure, leaving November’s floodwaters unlikely to recede until February. This prolonged isolation severely limits access to basic services, food, and water, heightens health and sanitation risks, and creates conditions that drive residents to consider migration northward.

OCHA/Marc Belanger

Financial requirements

Due to the prioritized shock-based geographic focus, the financial requirements amount to $138 million, a 32 per cent reduction compared to 2024. Some sectors have reduced their targets and funding requirements, to focus on the most prioritized needs. The Honduras HNRP is project-based.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

Central Emergency Response Fund

As of 30 September, The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) project “Early warning and humanitarian health response for vulnerable populations in border areas and areas of high human mobility” reached 25,238 people in the prioritized municipalities of Choluteca, Danlí, El Paraíso,Trojes, Ocotepeque and Santa Fe. The project has been implemented by PAHO/WHO and partners of the Health Cluster.

Camp coordination and camp management

The camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) cluster supported 21,250 people with shelter, transportation, food and basic needs.

Malnutrition

Management of acute malnutrition, including detection and treatment of malnutrition for 63,000 children under 5 years old, and 6,991 pregnant and lactating women.

Education

12,437 children and adolescents, including 6,228 girls and 6,209 boys, accessed on-site educational experiences based on flexible learning methodologies in safe, friendly learning spaces and educational centres. Among these, 6,001 migrant children and adolescents (3,038 girls and 2,963 boys) used the virtual platform “Passport to Learning” to facilitate the traceability of educational progress while on the migration route.

Returnees

Since their arrival at the returnee reception centre Centro Belen, 788 adolescents and children have received multisectoral support, including assistance with targeted cases in 5 municipalities in northern Honduras. The assistance focuses on educational reintegration, provision of educational materials, and application of flexible learning modalities for academic levelling.

Protection

The Protection Cluster reached more than 230,000 people through humanitarian assistance and specialized protection services. Priority has been given to case management, assistance to people with specific needs and strengthening of referral pathways for those at risk. In response to the impacts of violence, the context has been continuously analyzed to complement advocacy efforts aimed at promoting preventive measures and care.

Consequences of inaction

Without urgent global intervention and funding, the humanitarian crisis in Honduras will deepen, affecting all levels of society. Insufficient support for gender-based violence (GBV) services leaves thousands vulnerable, and the food insecurity situation is expected to deteriorate further in the coming months. Massive flows of people on the move will continue to overwhelm local infrastructure, while the health emergency will worsen as rainy season exacerbates conditions. Limited resources for the National Humanitarian Forum have affected key implementing areas such as localized response strategies, particularly in conflict-affected or disaster-prone regions.

Gender-based violence

Currently, only 1.8 per cent of the minimum requirement for GBV services has been funded, leading to prioritization of geographical areas such as the south-east and western border. This has reduced GBV services in other areas, including a reduction of essential inputs like post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) kits.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

As of September 2024, only 21.6 per cent of the funding required to provide 560,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services has been received, leaving 464,000 people without the necessary support.

Nutrition

Due to lack of funding the nutrition working group has only reached 35 per cent of its target, leaving 143,000 people without nutrition assistance.

Education

Only about 10 per cent of the nearly 73,000 children and adolescents who entered the country between January to August have been reached with learning recovery activities.

Child protection

As of September 2024, only 28,000 boys, girls and adolescents were reached with child protection services, and only 12 per cent of the 245,000 targeted care givers were reached.

Venezuela

People in Need
7.6 million
People Targeted
5.0 million
Requirements (US$)
$617.0 million
Total population
29.4 million
Income level
-
INFORM Severity Index
4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2019 - 2025

Situation overview

Venezuela faces important humanitarian challenges driven by structural bottlenecks to economic growth, political and social challenges, and recurrent climate-related events. Gaps in basic services—healthcare, water, education, and energy—are among the most critical needs for vulnerable people. Social protection, livelihood support and income-generating opportunities remain scarce, especially for women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, indigenous communities, people on the move, and LGBTQ+ people.

In 2024, Venezuela’s GDP continued to grow, reaching 8.6 percent in the first half of the year, compared with 2023. Projected growth for the year is 6.1 percent, driven by the recovery of both the oil (14.2 percent) and non-oil (4.7 percent) sectors. This follows a nine-year large-scale economic contraction of 75 percent of GDP, ongoing economic sanctions, and limited fiscal space for investing in basic services and social programmes. Despite recent growth, the economy remains 70 percent smaller than its peak in 2013, and the aforementioned recovery has had limited impact on alleviating the needs of the most vulnerable.

Since 2015, limited economic opportunities and access to basic services have driven substantial Venezuelan migration flows. While a large number of Venezuelans have left to neighbouring countries, a mixed migration pattern has emerged. Many continue to leave, resulting in family separations, with numerous children and adolescents separated from their primary caregivers, while others return. Factors such as family reunification and difficulties integrating into host countries influence these returns. Sustainable returns depend on improved economic opportunities and access to essential services in Venezuela.

Venezuela

El Arroyo, Zulia State, Venezuela

A woman participates in a multisectoral community resilience building project, receiving protection services, livelihood support and improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.

OCHA/Luis Carlos Sánchez

Internally, 7.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, particularly in health, food security, education, water and sanitation systems, nutrition, and protection, including child protection, gender- based violence (GBV), and mental health services. The healthcare system is stretched thin, impacted by shortages of medical supplies and qualified personnel. Feedback provided by communities indicates that the main concern for vulnerable people is insufficient access to food, which could increase malnutrition risks for children, pregnant women, adolescents, and the elderly. A basic food basket for a family of five costs US$539, beyond reach for most families. The situation is critical for all those whose income depends on the minimum wage ($3.50 per month) or on government vouchers worth $130.

The electoral context has created operational and access challenges, including bureaucratic and administrative impediments, and localized lack of security. Protection risks—such as emotional and psychological distress, new forms of GBV and movement restrictions–have risen. These challenges are expected to persist in 2025 as Venezuela prepares for legislative, regional, and municipal elections. Additionally, new legislation may increase bureaucratic and administrative burdens, potentially undermining the effectiveness of humanitarian response. The ongoing political crisis, economic sanctions, lack of investment in essential infrastructure—including water, electricity, schools, and hospitals—and the widening gap between high living costs and low wages will continue to negatively affect the humanitarian situation in 2025.

Venezuela

Venezuela

A woman receives a medical check-up through a Venezuela Humanitarian Fund project providing essential healthcare services to children and women.

OCHA/Diego A. Cedeño

Response Priorities in 2025

In 2024, the humanitarian response in Venezuela, coordinated with local authorities, achieved national coverage, reaching 310 out of 335 municipalities across all 24 states. A significant advancement in 2024 was the implementation of a prioritization strategy for the multisectoral humanitarian response, focused on 58 municipalities, which will be adopted in 2025 as well. By monitoring and analysing the response at the municipal level, more informed decision-making is obtained, improving the overall impact of the humanitarian community, and strengthening the humanitarian programming cycle.

Priorities for 2025 include scaling up efforts on critical needs, strengthening basic service delivery, supporting livelihoods and community resilience, and addressing protection risks, including child protection and GBV. Response parameters for 2025 will incorporate lessons from 2024, including a focus on shock-prone populations, particularly in regions with the highest needs.

Venezuela

El Arroyo, Zulia State, Venezuela

Community members practice handwashing during a WASH activity.

OCHA/Luis Carlos Sánchez

The response will strengthen collaboration with local and national implementing partners, who play a critical role in last-mile delivery in hard-to-reach areas. However, access constraints remain a challenge, with some regions experiencing blockages and security challenges which limit aid’s reach. In 2025, as part of localization efforts and to ensure sustainability, the international humanitarian community will transition some response activities to local actors where possible.

In 2025, the humanitarian community expects to continue targeting 5 million people, which reflects the operational capacity and a realistic assessment of the humanitarian system’s scalability. The 2025 response strategy will incorporate a "reality check" based on the operational capacity and reach achieved in 2024, particularly in regions where access and funding constraints limit the response effectiveness. Capacity limitations, especially in remote areas with limited humanitarian presence, may compromise direct assistance to certain populations.

Aid in Action

Venezuela Humanitarian Fund: Empowering local actors for a stronger humanitarian response

Venezuela
Guajira municipality, Zulia state, Venezuela
Community members participate in a “New Masculinities” workshop promoting gender equality and preventing GBV. The project is supported by the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund.
OCHA/Luis Carlos Sánchez

Three out of five organizations responding in Venezuela are national, with local capacity building central to the humanitarian response and supported by the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF). In 2024, three-quarters of VHF funding went directly to national organizations, empowering them to lead the response. VHF not only provides resources, but also ensures national organizations participate in decision-making, with two women-led organizations and one disability-focused organization on the Advisory Board. In 2023, VHF provided over 70 hours of training, demonstrating its commitment to capacity development, and a sustainable humanitarian response.

Efforts to promote cooperation between national and international actors have also been pivotal. Recent projects in Apure and Zulia states, led by national organizations, address protection, GBV, nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security. These projects mark a shift from traditionally international-led structures, whereby national organizations lead the partnerships with their international counterparts. The humanitarian community and donors are eager to see more initiatives with this approach: “as national as possible, as international as necessary.”

Financial requirements

Venezuela will require $617 million in humanitarian funding in 2025, the same as in 2024. With limited funding available globally for humanitarian action, the response in Venezuela prioritizes the most life-saving interventions, delivering a bare-bones approach to address critical needs amid growing challenges. This strategy ensures that limited resources are directed to areas that have the greatest impact on saving lives and supporting vulnerable people. The absence of development actors and financing in Venezuela hinders efforts to address the structural causes behind the lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities.

2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction

Response highlights

In 2024, the humanitarian response in Venezuela expanded, with 158 organizations reaching 310 out of 335 municipalities, including remote areas. By September, approximately 2.1 million people (59 percent women) received humanitarian assistance. Key achievements include:

School meals

By September: School meals provided for over 480,000 children and personnel

Safe water access

Safe water access for nearly 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities benefitting 80,000 people

Protection

Specialized protection services for over 199,000 people (including child protection specialized services for 80,000 children), and GBV services for 11,000 women and girls

Nutrition

Life-saving nutrition support for 36,000 children and pregnant women

Education

Learning materials and equipment were provided to over 157,000 students and teachers.

Coordination

Enhanced coordination with national authorities improved response to increasingly frequent disasters.

By December 2024, the response is projected to reach over 2.7 million people (59 percent women), with key interventions including:

School meals

Balanced school meals to over 480,000 children

Safe water access

The repairs to water sanitation and hygiene systems in healthcare facilities, benefitting 100,000 people

Protection

Mental health support for 230,000 girls, boys and adolescents

Disaster risk reduction

Disaster risk reduction help for 25,000 individuals

Due to funding constraints, many recipients of aid did not receive full intended support. On the other hand, over half of the organizations responding to humanitarian needs are local and national (57 percent), emphasizing localization and fostering a sustainable, inclusive approach.

Consequences of inaction

Funding shortages have severely impacted Venezuela’s humanitarian response.

Health

1.2 million people will not receive
vital life-saving support,
including provision of medicine,
and quality primary health
services. Important training will
not be provided to health
workers.

Education

1.5 million girls and boys missed out on educational assistance through the Humanitarian Response Plan, impacting the quality of education and exposing them to increased child protection risks.

Gender-based violence

The funding gap has also had dire consequences for women and girls, with 80 percent of them lacking necessary support to prevent and respond to GBV. It further endangers girls and adolescents by limiting access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, including menstrual hygiene.

Basic services and livelihood

The scarcity of basic services and livelihood support has hindered the reintegration of returnees into their communities.

References

  1. ICRC Colombia: Humanitarian Report 2024 - Colombia | ReliefWeb
  2. Results of the Study on the Presence and Humanitarian Impact of Non-State Armed Groups in Colombia 2024. OCHA Colombia
  3. 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID) | IDMC - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and Colombia: Operational Update | Global Focus
  4. Disaggregation of General PiN (People in Need). PRPC and RPRM Update Colombia 2025, based on HCT and GIFMM’s estimations using JIAF 2.0 methodology and RMNA 2024.
  5. Colombia sees a modest improvement in food security but half of the population remains exposed to climatic and economic risks | World Food Programme
  6. According to the Protection Monitoring Tool (PMT) from the Protection Cluster, 45% of key informants reported that children and adolescents have been left behind in their communities in 2024