-
Current Requirements (US$)$606.5 million
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.
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 SánchezInternally, 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
A woman receives a medical check-up through a Venezuela Humanitarian Fund project providing essential healthcare services to children and women.
OCHA/Diego A. CedeñoResponse 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.
El Arroyo, Zulia State, Venezuela
Community members practice handwashing during a WASH activity.
OCHA/Luis Carlos SánchezThe 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.
Venezuela Humanitarian Fund: Empowering local actors for a stronger humanitarian response
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 $617 million in humanitarian funding in 2025, the same as in 2024. With limited funding available globally for humanitarian action, the response in Venezuela prioritizes the most life-saving interventions, delivering a bare-bones approach to address critical needs amid growing challenges. This strategy ensures that limited resources are directed to areas that have the greatest impact on saving lives and supporting vulnerable people. The absence of development actors and financing in Venezuela hinders efforts to address the structural causes behind the lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities.
Evolución de la respuesta humanitaria
07-Feb-2026
Evolución de la respuesta humanitaria
| Año | Tipo | Personas en necesidad | Población meta | Requerimientos financieros ($) | Financiación ($) | % Financiado |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
7.9 million
|
5.1 million
|
$606.5 million
|
$115.2 million
|
19%
|
|
| 2024 |
7.6 million
|
5.1 million
|
$617 million
|
$177.4 million
|
28.8%
|
|
| 2023 |
7 million
|
5.2 million
|
$719.6 million
|
$401.8 million
|
55.8%
|
|
| 2022 |
7 million
|
5.2 million
|
$795 million
|
$282.7 million
|
35.6%
|
|
| 2021 |
7 million
|
4.5 million
|
$708.1 million
|
$284.6 million
|
40.2%
|
|
| 2020 |
7 million
|
4.5 million
|
$762.5 million
|
$182.2 million
|
23.9%
|
|
| 2019 |
7 million
|
2.7 million
|
$222.7 million
|
$76.9 million
|
34.5%
|
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
- 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