What is the crisis about?
(Updated 9 April 2026) Due to a prolonged economic, political and human rights crisis, approximately 7.9 million Venezuelans have left their country since 2015, making this the largest displacement crisis in Latin America’s modern history.
Inside the country, around 7–7.9 million people—about one in four Venezuelans—require humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, water and education.
Background
The crisis deepened after the disputed re‑election of President Nicolás Maduro in July 2018. The opposition rejected the election as neither free nor fair. In January 2019, the opposition‑led National Assembly recognised its speaker, Juan Guaidó, as interim president, triggering a prolonged constitutional and political standoff.
Since then, Venezuela has experienced:
- Erosion of democratic institutions
- Severe economic contraction (GDP shrank by ~75% between 2013–2021)
- International sanctions, primarily imposed by the United States and others, which contributed to economic isolation while exemptions exist for humanitarian aid.
Political instability intensified again following the July 2024 presidential elections, after which UN bodies documented renewed repression and mass arrests.
On 3 January 2026, the United States launched a military operation inside Venezuela and arrested President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, transferring them to the United States to face federal narco‑terrorism and drug‑trafficking charges that had been filed in U.S. courts in 2020.
- The UN Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission stated that the operation violated international law, even while reiterating that there are reasonable grounds to believe Maduro bears responsibility for crimes against humanity.
- Venezuela’s vice‑president, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as acting president shortly afterward.
- The core security and institutional structures linked to repression remain intact, according to UN investigators.
Impact on People and the Environment
Amid hyperinflation, poverty, collapsing public services, insecurity and political repression, more than 23% of Venezuela’s population has fled the country.
Of the 7.9 million displaced Venezuelans worldwide:
- 6.7–6.9 million are hosted in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Over 370,000 have been formally recognised as refugees
- More than 1.4 million are asylum‑seekers globally.
Host countries—especially Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Chile—face growing strain on healthcare, education and social protection systems.
Inside Venezuela:
- Food insecurity affects over 5 million people
- Healthcare, water and electricity systems are severely degraded
- Climate shocks (floods, droughts) increasingly worsen vulnerability.
UN Response to the Crisis
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres continues to call for “an inclusive, Venezuelan‑led political dialogue” and full respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission on Venezuela, established in 2019 and extended until October 2026, has concludedthat Venezuelan authorities are responsible for widespread and systematic repression, amounting to crimes against humanity. [ohchr.org],
Its latest reports (2024–2025) document:
- Arbitrary detentions
- Torture and sexual violence
- Targeting of political opponents, journalists and civil society
UN Agencies Involved and Their Role
- CERF: In August 2023,$8.2 million was released from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support underfunded life‑saving programmes in Venezuela.
- UNHCR:
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- Leads protection and shelter responses
- Supports refugees, returnees, IDPs and people at risk of statelessness
- Faces a major funding gap (around 60%) for the Venezuela operation.
- WFP:
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- Reached over 750,000 people in 2025
- Runs a large‑scale school meals programme benefiting over 330,000 children
- Requires urgent funding to avoid programme reductions.
- UNICEF:
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- Provides life‑saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of children annually
- Focuses on health, nutrition, education, child protection and WASH
- 2025 appeal remains over 80% unfunded.
SDGs Connected to the Crisis
The crisis in Venezuela touches upon most of the SDGs, not least #1 No Poverty, #2 Zero Hunger and #16 Peace, Justice and Institutions.
How Can You Get Involved?
You can donate to many UN agencies, including:
More information:
- The Independent International Fact-Finding mission
- Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
- WFP in Venezuela
- UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Venezuela
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