THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN VENEZUELA
The humanitarian crisis dates back to 2015 and has only got worse . The country has become the most unequal in the Americas , a horrible distinction considering the continent has the highest levels of inequality worldwide .
As the prices of things have increased beyond the lifestyles of the Venezuelan people , they were rapidly plunged into extreme poverty , an estimated 53.3 % of the population in 2022 , as per Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida – National Survey of Living Conditions ( ENCOVI ). As of January 2024 , year-on-year inflation in Venezuela was 193 %, according to the Observatorio Venezolano de Finanzas .
To put this into perspective , the United Nations defines extreme poverty as surviving on less than US $ 2 per person per day , with limited access to food , energy , water , healthcare and other essentials required to live a standard quality of life .
According to a study by researchers of Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health , “ Venezuela Health Profile 2021 ”, approximately 50 % of doctors and 25 % of nurses in Venezuela have emigrated since 2012 , seeking a better quality of life elsewhere . They represent a small portion of the 7.8 million people who have fled the country , based on latest figures from The Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants ( R4V ).
The people of Venezuela face challenging and dangerous situations from day one , with some of the most urgent needs related to their health and nutrition . The situation extends overseas as Venezuelans travel to other host countries where they don ’ t always have the opportunity to work or have access to necessary healthcare .
“ Over the last four years , the Foundation has achieved great impact overall ”
MARIELA POLEO PRESIDENT , SIMÓN BOLÍVAR FOUNDATION