Sida's work in Venezuela
Venezuela is experiencing a prolonged humanitarian crisis. In 2022, an estimated 7 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance. Sida's humanitarian work focuses on protecting people from violence and abuse, with a particular focus on children, women and displaced people. Education, clean water and food are other key areas.
The humanitarian situation in Venezuela
The complex crisis in Venezuela continues to worsen due to deteriorating economic and political conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the situation. Respect for human rights has declined with an increase in abuse, assault and politically-motivated arrests.
Around 14 percent of children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. Nearly 60 percent of pregnant women are malnourished and almost a third of the population has insecure access to food.
The health care sector is close to collapse and there is a shortage of medicines, staff and equipment. There is a lack of clean water and the majority of women lack access to health case services, resulting in dangerous abortions and unsafe pregnancies.
Conflicts and clashes continue between non-state armed and criminal groups in border areas between Colombia and Venezuela and in the suburbs of the capital, Caracas. This leads to insecurity, lawlessness and flight.
In 2022, more than 7 million people are expected to be in need of humanitarian support in Venezuela.1
How Sida is supporting Venezuela
Sida’s humanitarian aid to Venezuela focuses on providing protection and assistance to vulnerable people. We prioritise protecting women and children from violence, increasing access to education for vulnerable children, improving nutrition for children and young people and supporting people forced to leave their homes.
Helping vulnerable people
Sida supports the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) national programme, which focuses on protection, education, food security, water and sanitation. The NRC prioritises areas with high numbers of migrants and displaced people.
Contributing to health, water and sanitation
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) focuses on protection, health, water, sanitation and hygiene and temporary shelter. The ICRC has been working in Venezuela since 1966 and is one of the organisations with the best knowledge and presence in the country.
Protecting children and preventing violence
Sida supports the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one of the most important humanitarian actors in Venezuela. Support focuses on health, nutrition, education, child protection in migration and violence prevention. The programme covers most of the country.
Providing school children with food
The World Food Program (WFP) works to provide food for school children. They also assess the food-security situation in the country to direct assistance where it is most needed.
Sida's Crisis Analysis
Sources on this page
Updated: April 5, 2022