Crisis overview
Over the past year, Venezuela has navigated a series of complex economic and political developments affecting most vulnerable people’s needs. Despite economic recovery in previous years, recent shifts in external factors regarding measures affecting the domestic oil sector have introduced additional complexities, limiting the State’s access to foreign currency and sharp increases in the cost of essential goods. Additionally, the broader effects of unilateral coercive measures and recurrent climate-related events have further exacerbated people’s immediate needs.
Limited fiscal space continues to restrict investment in social programs. Inflation—projected to reach triple digits annually—is eroding livelihoods among the most vulnerable populations. The cost of a basic food basket for a family of five is estimated at $586, a figure that remains well beyond the reach of most households, especially those reliant on fixed incomes in local currency.
Persistent gaps in basic services—including healthcare, water, education, and energy—remain among the most critical needs for vulnerable populations. Access to social protection, livelihood support, and income-generating opportunities is limited, particularly for women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, indigenous communities, people on the move, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Currently, 7.9 million people within the country need humanitarian assistance, with critical needs concentrated in health, food security, education, water and sanitation systems, nutrition, and protection, including child protection, gender-based violence, and mental health support.
Miranda State, Venezuela
A pregnant woman receives a nutritional check-up through a Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF) supported project.
OCHA/Jennifer MorenoAdding to these pressures is the sustained trend of Venezuelans returning to the country, driven by recent changes in migration policy in host countries, including deportations and voluntary return programs. Most returnees arrive in vulnerable conditions, often with limited means to reintegrate and in need of protection services. This growing influx is placing additional strain on Venezuela’s already overstretched resources, highlighting the need to include returnees in public and humanitarian programmes.
The military buildup and operations in the Caribbean Sea, further threaten to worsen the situation. A prolonged escalation of military pressure could deepen already fragile socio-economic conditions, raise protection concerns, significantly increase humanitarian needs, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, the ongoing political challenges, economic sanctions, and underinvestment in essential infrastructure—such as water, electricity, schools, and hospitals— continue to affect living conditions. The widening gap between high living costs and low wages is expected to further deteriorate the humanitarian outlook in 2026.
Response priorities and financial requirements for 2026
In 2025, the humanitarian response in Venezuela has unfolded within a context of limited funding, which impacted the operational capacity of humanitarian actors. Key sectors—including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Nutrition, Protection, (including gender-based violence and child protection), Health (including sexual and reproductive health), Food Security, and Education—experienced reductions in coverage and available resources.
Looking ahead to 2026, the response will focus on addressing the most acute humanitarian needs, targeting 5.4 million people, with urgent prioritization 900,000 individuals living in the highest severity intersectoral challenges. Response priorities were defined based on a detailed analysis of needs and access across municipalities. This analysis cross-references the severity of humanitarian needs, operational capacity, and access constraints, ensuring that assistance is targeted where it is both most critical and feasible to deliver.
Miranda State, Venezuela
Yeisy, with her daughters Greidy and Adelis and son Johender, collects a food basket funded by the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (VHF).
OCHA/Luisana SolanoThe operational landscape in 2026 is shaped by the legacy of 2025's significant funding shortfalls, which forced the closure of several UN and partners’ field offices and reduced the operational capacity of implementing partners in some of the prioritized regions. A major consequence of this is that populations in access-restricted areas or locations where partners have had to withdraw will face heightened risks of further deteriorating conditions without access to humanitarian assistance. Access constraints, including bureaucratic impediments and security challenges in certain regions, continue to require attention. Addressing these constraints require continued investment in negotiation efforts and the strategic empowerment of local and national partners, who play a vital role in ensuring last-mile delivery in hard-to-reach areas.
The response will require $606 million, with $184 million for these prioritized activities. With limited funding available globally for humanitarian action, the response in Venezuela prioritizes the most lifesaving interventions, delivering a streamlined approach to address critical needs amid growing challenges. This strategy ensures that limited resources are directed to the areas that will have the greatest impact on saving lives and supporting vulnerable people. The absence of development actors willing to finance programs in Venezuela hinders efforts to address the structural causes behind the lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities.
Venezuela
2025 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction
Response highlights
In 2025, humanitarian partners provided critical assistance to 2 million people (55 percent women), including healthcare, nutritional support, access to safe water, protection assistance, food distributions, and education support.
Food Security
Over 575,000 children, their families and educational personnel, received school meals.
Health
245,000 people in hospitals and local health centres received medicines and medical supplies.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Contraception was provided to over 59,000 women. Comprehensive obstetric/gynecological care was delivered to more than 53,000 women, and support was provided for 312 clinical management of sexual violence consultations.
WASH
176,000 people provided with access to clean and safe drinking water.
Nutrition
Nutritional support for more than 160,000 children and pregnant women.
Protection
Specialized protection services helped 145,000 people (including child protection services for 45,000 children and 12,000 survivors of gender-based violence).
Education
Over 41,000 children benefited from the support of essential educational services.
Response
Reached 309 out of 335 municipalities, maintaining a large operational footprint despite constraints.
Localization
Over half of the humanitarian response is delivered by national and local organisations (58 per cent).
Food Assistance
Emergency food assistance was provided to 9,894 households, reaching 39,576 people in Apure, Anzoátegui, and Guárico states in response to the rains and floods that occurred during the second half of 2025.
Sucre State, Venezuela
“Before, I didn’t like talking to anyone, but now I feel comfortable and happy in this space.” Rosa, 19, participates in the Safe Spaces Programme for Adolescents.
UNFPA/Nayra GutiérrezConsequences of funding cuts
A substantial reduction in funding, particularly from previously major donors, led to a projected end-of-year reach of only 39 per cent of the initial target. This represents a contraction in people reached, with 1.5 million fewer people assisted than in 2024. The funding reduction left an estimated 2.6 million people without planned assistance, forcing the closure of nutritional treatment programs in several states and a 74 per cent reduction in children reached by protection services in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024. Those reached have received a reduced amount of support, such as half rations in food security interventions and often a lower frequency of support (i.e. aid that was previously provided weekly is now given monthly). The unmet need for contraception continues to grow, contributing to challenges in sexual and reproductive health, particularly among adolescents and women. Specialized gender-based-violence services were significantly reduced, increasing risks to the safety and well-being of survivors.
Operational constraints: Reductions in operational capacity meant that organisations could not scale up to meet rising needs, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where vulnerabilities are most acute, affecting at-risk populations, including indigenous people, women, girls, older persons, and persons with disabilities, who already face limited access to services. National and local organisations, the backbone of the response, were disproportionately affected by these funding gaps.
Venezuela: working with national responders to prepare for emergencies
Emergency preparedness remains a cornerstone of the humanitarian community’s work in Venezuela, supporting first responders, strengthening coordination with authorities at all levels and empowering local organizations and communities. This year, preparedness efforts proved essential as the country faced increased rainfall, causing floods and landslides. Apure, in southwestern Venezuela, was among the most affected states, particularly in rural and indigenous communities where existing vulnerabilities and response challenges amplified the impact. Humanitarian organizations complement the national emergency response, working through coordination mechanisms such as the Local Coordination Forum and the Emergency Preparedness and Response Working Group. These platforms enabled rapid assessments, information sharing, and joint actions in support of affected communities. All efforts were carried out with the leadership of the national government. With support from pre-positioned funds through the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and the Venezuelan Red Cross provided access to safe drinking water. Overall, the humanitarian community reached 60,000 people in Apure with food baskets, hygiene kits, primary health care, access to safe drinking water, protection services, and other essential support.