Multisectoral response to the humanitarian needs of vulnerable people in Amazonas, Zulia and Bolivar states

According to OCHA's Needs Assessment Overview for 2023, the context of socio-economic crisis has had a major impact on access to basic services and the living conditions of the most vulnerable people in Venezuela. The deterioration of the public basic services (health, water and electricity), combined with the lack of purchasing power, has significantly worsened the nutritional conditions of the most at-risk families, especially those living in hard-to-reach areas such as the indigenous communities of Amazonas. The most vulnerable families struggle to ensure their access to safe drinking water, as well as to food and non-food items (despite their availability in the market). The minimum wage on 22 May 2023 was USD 4.99 (Bolívares 130.00) per month, being far insufficient to cover the basic food basket, calculated by the Centro de Documentación y Análisis para los Trabajadores at USD 526.27, equivalent to Bolívares 13’214.61.

The three states targeted for intervention are prioritised by the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022-2023, as well as the target group, children under 5 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people and indigenous population. The state of Amazonas is one of the states with the most precarious living conditions and mayor needs of humanitarian assistance (80’000 people in need from a total of 182’311 inhabitants), especially in mother and child nutrition and health, concentrated mainly in indigenous populations. According to the ACH database, the main causes of morbidity in nursing mothers and children are: anaemic syndrome, acute diarrhoea, respiratory diseases, common cold, neuomonia, among others.

Direct beneficiaries SDC: a total of 8’205 people (4’267 female / 3’938 male) - including children and young people, adult/elderly people and indigenous communities.

In Amazonas state: a total of 2’205 people.

In Bolívar states: a total of 2’834.

In Zulia state: a total of 3’166.

Indirect SDC beneficiaries: 12’308 people

Outcome 1: Vulnerable people and population groups affected by sudden-onset emergencies have their most urgent needs covered.

Outcome 2: The most vulnerable communities improve their resource management and generate opportunities for socio-economic development in order to become more resilient.

Expected results:  

Outcome 1

Emergency

• Emergency assistance and protection (only applicable in case of sudden onset emergency)

Outcome 2

Food security, Nutrition and Health

• People in urgent humanitarian need have access to basic health services and treatment for malnutrition.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

• Community capacities for safe access to water are increased and proper use of water, techniques on sanitation and hygiene are promoted.

Livelihood

• Targeted people in each territory participate in reactivation of productivity and initiatives of entrepreneurship.

Results from previous phases:  

• 11'741 people participated in health and nutrition days in the states of Guárico and Zulia. Of the total, 1'576 boys, 1'604 girls and 446 pregnant and lactating women were evaluated in screening and primary health care, nutritional diagnosis and prenatal or postnatal control.
• 2'535 women of reproductive age received counselling on sexual and reproductive health, 3'921 people received advice on good dietary practices.
• 1'659 people participated in psychosocial care sessions.
• In the state of Guárico, two clinics and two schools have been rehabilitated, improving their access to drinking water and sanitation services. This has enabled 8’193 people to be reached. 
• 280 vulnerable families detected to be at nutritional risk in the states of Guárico and Zulia received food baskets, benefiting a total of 1'631 people. 
• Throughout the consolidation of the PREDISAN platform was possible to obtain key data that contributed to the construction and updating of the Humanitarian Needs Assessment 2023 through workshops from the Data Management Working Groups led by OCHA.