Venezuela — humanitarian situation

Venezuela's humanitarian crisis continues to strain response capacity, with funding remaining critically low despite ongoing needs. Between January and April 2026, the humanitarian response reached 739,000 people, of whom 62 percent were women and girls (OCHA). As of late May, only $99.8 million had been mobilized, representing just 15.8 percent of the required funding under the Humanitarian Response Plan (OCHA). This funding gap severely constrains the ability of humanitarian actors to scale up assistance across Venezuela's 24 states where operational presence has been documented (OCHA). The population affected by Venezuela's protracted crisis extends well beyond national borders, with significant displacement flows continuing across the region. Monitoring at Ecuador's northern border points recorded approximately 300 daily crossings in May 2026, representing a 34 percent decrease from April, with 53 percent of movements following the North-South route (IOM). Venezuelan refugees and migrants continue to settle primarily in urban areas throughout the Americas, where their self-reliance depends heavily on access to employment, services, and legal documentation (UNHCR). Regional initiatives aim to support over 70,000 people through improved socioeconomic inclusion programs, though the scale of need far exceeds current coverage (UNHCR). Emerging health threats compound existing vulnerabilities. Measles cases across the Americas have surged to 22,324 confirmed cases and 38 deaths across 17 countries as of mid-June 2026, representing a 207 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025 (OCHA). While new cases declined 29 percent in the two weeks prior to 13 June, the outbreak remains a significant concern across the region. Additionally, forecasts indicate El Niño conditions are very likely from mid-2026, with most models projecting at least moderate strength and a strong event increasingly possible (IASC, IFRC, OCHA). This climate pattern arrives amid record global temperatures and could exacerbate food security and WASH conditions for vulnerable populations already facing humanitarian stress.