Key Developments

The Maduro regime and Unitary Platform officials signed the Mesa Social humanitarian agreement on November 26, committing both parties to pursue joint initiatives to benefit the Venezuelan people and address humanitarian needs using frozen Government of Venezuela funds for assistance in Venezuela.

Heavy rainfall continues to adversely affect communities in Venezuela, resulting in flooding and related deaths and displacement.

On December 13, USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) transitioned its Disaster Assistance Response Team and Response Management Team structure to geographic teams; staff continue to coordinate and monitor humanitarian response efforts from USAID/BHA's offices in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Washington, D.C.

Background

Since 2014, deteriorating economic and political conditions in Venezuela—marked by devastating hyperinflation, shortages of basic medicines, and limited food availability—have contributed to increasing humanitarian needs. The 2021 UN Humanitarian Response Plan identified food security, health, nutrition, and protection as urgent needs inside Venezuela. Severe food and medicine shortages have led Venezuelans to flee to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and also to Argentina, Mexico, Panama, and Caribbean and Central American countries. The UN estimates that more than 5.6 million Venezuelans have left their country since 2014, and the migration is straining the capacity of some host communities, particularly in border areas of Brazil and Colombia.