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Add to Preferred SourcesThe United Nations and humanitarian partners launched the 2021 Venezuela Humanitarian Response Plan that aims to assist 4.5 million vulnerable Venezuelan women, men, children, and adolescents.
This Plan, which appeals for US$708.1 million and is an update of the 2020 Plan, aims to provide life-saving emergency assistance, secure livelihoods through improving access to basic services, and ensure the protection of the most vulnerable people.
To date, international donors have given US$83.9 million in 2021. Achieving the targets for funding and access to the most vulnerable people will enable the implementation of 223 projects by 144 humanitarian organizations, including UN agencies and international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in partnership with national institutions. Assistance will focus on health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; food security and nutrition; shelter; protection; and education.
“This Plan aims to give continuity and scale up the impact of the humanitarian response in Venezuela. Throughout 2020, we have reached 4.9 million people with some form of assistance, demonstrating the capacity of the United Nations and our partners to adapt to a new context marked by the pandemic and reach the most vulnerable population, including women, children, and adolescents,” said Mr. Jan Harfst, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in Venezuela.
“Fighting the pandemic and supporting the health needs of the population remain our top priorities, but we are also focused on addressing other needs related to livelihoods, access to basic services, and the protection of the most vulnerable populations, among others. I thank donors for their solidarity and for contributing nearly $258 million to the response in 2020. I also call on them to increase their support this year and help us address the most urgent humanitarian needs,” said Mr. Harfst.
In 2021, the operational capacity to implement the Humanitarian Response Plan has scaled up due to the increase in the number of humanitarian actors, including the World Food Programme.
To facilitate the work of these organizations, the United Nations calls for the securing of humanitarian access, including for national and international NGOs. In this regard, it is necessary to facilitate spaces for dialogue and to build trust between all parties to promote humanitarian action based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, and to ensure the protection of all humanitarian personnel.