Venezuela, 2021–2022: The challenges of humanitarian work amidst armed violence and pandemic

Venezuela, 2021–2022: The challenges of humanitarian work amidst armed violence and pandemic

In 2021, the ICRC’s team in Venezuela faced both the challenges and the opportunities that come with intensifying humanitarian work against a backdrop of armed violence. Thanks to our continual dialogue with communities, authorities and others – including weapon bearers – we were able to help the people most at risk (e.g. wounded and sick people and those in detention or separated from their families) to meet their most urgent needs
Report 01 February 2022 Venezuela

Our objective for the year was to create opportunities out of what was a very difficult situation. Concretely, this meant improving people's access to clean water, health-care services, sanitation facilities and other essential infrastructure, supporting them to maintain or improve their livelihoods and much more. We also helped people in areas like La Victoria, Apure and Cota 905 in Caracas, where the armed violence was causing direct harm, e.g. patients with gunshot wounds, people forced to flee their homes and others unable to access essential services easily.

Together with the Venezuelan Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, we provided support for the ministry of health's national plan to vaccinate the public against COVID-19.

The most vulnerable communities in Venezuela will likely continue suffering the effects of violence that at times seems unstoppable. The situation could undoubtedly get even more complex, and that's where the challenge lies: in adapting and redirecting our activities and programmes in step with the situation so we can continue addressing people's needs and fulfilling our mission.

Arnaud de Baecque
Head of Delegación

Learn more about what we did in 2021 and our plans for 2022 here

These are just a few things that the ICRC did in Venezuela in 2021:

327,545 people received
treatment in ICRC-supported primary-health-care centres and 67,633 people received treatment in ICRC-supported emergency-care facilities.
13 vaccination centres supported by the Venezuelan Red Cross
received financial support (towards fuel and water and food for its volunteers), to allow them to be part of the ministry of health’s national vaccination plan.
3,225 people
were given balanced meals through 10 community kitchens.
5,397 connectivity-related services
(calls, Wi-Fi connections, battery charging) were provided.
8,265 people deprived of their liberty
were visited in 10 detention centres.
8,890 body bags
179,000 items of personal protective equipment and 17,000 sets of medical and hygiene materials were distributed to 19 forensic facilities.
526 volunteers from 30 branches and sections of the Venezuelan Red Cross
received training on the Safer Access Framework, operational risk management and safe driving.

Learn more about the ICRC's work in Venezuela in 2021 here

Learn more about what we did in 2021 and our plans for 2022
Learn more about the ICRC’s work in Venezuela in 2021