Emergencies

VENEZUELA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

7.3 million

More than 7.3 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014. This is the largest exodus in Latin America’s recent history and one of the largest displacement crises in the world (as of February 2023).

6 million

The vast majority of Venezuelans, 6 million, are hosted by countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (as of March 2023).

20%

20 percent of the population has fled the country and people continue to leave at an average of 2,000 per day.

About the Crisis in Venezuela

Venezuela, a country that has traditionally been a generous host to refugees, is now facing its own displacement crisis. The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has become the second largest international displacement crisis in the world with 7.3 million Venezuelans displaced globally. The majority of displaced Venezuelans, 6 million, are currently residing in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rampant violence, inflation, gang-warfare, soaring crime rates as well as shortages of food, medicine and essential services have forced millions to seek refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. An estimated 2,000 people are leaving Venezuela every day.

More than 211,000 Venezuelans have been recognized as refugees, and more than 1 million have submitted asylum claims worldwide. But the majority of Venezuelans lack documentation to stay regularly in nearby countries and are not guaranteed access to basic rights. The situation for Venezuelans on the move is dire. They are exposed to heightened risks of exploitation, trafficking, violence, discrimination and xenophobia.

Colombia and other countries in the region have been generously hosting Venezuelans, but their capacity to provide basic services have become increasingly strained.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has joined over 228 partners in implementing the 2023-2024 Regional Response Plan for Refugees and Migrants (RMRP) with the goal of ensuring a coherent and coordinated operational response to the needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

In close collaboration with host governments, partner organizations, civil society, faith-based organizations and UN agencies (in particular IOM), UNHCR undertakes the following activities:

Direct humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs, including temporary shelters, cash-based interventions, health assistance and education.
Protection interventions for unaccompanied and separated children, indigenous communities, the elderly, sexual and gender-based violence survivors (SGBV), LGBTI community, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations with specific needs.
Campaigns against xenophobia.
Safe and dignified reception conditions and advocacy for legal stay.
Support of government registration, profiling and protection monitoring.
Research to understand the specific needs of Venezuelans across the region.

Learn more about What We Do.

More Facts

A majority of displaced Venezuelans live in Colombia, Peru, United States, Ecuador, Chile, Spain and Brazil.
Colombia currently hosts the largest number of Venezuelans, an estimated 2.5 million.
About 4.2 million residence and legal stay permits have been granted to Venezuelans since 2014.

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Emergencies

About the Crisis in Venezuela

How to Help Venezuelans in Need

What is UNHCR doing to help Venezuelans?

More Facts About the Venezuela Refugee Crisis

Make a Monthly Gift

Help Refugee Families

Stories from the Venezuelan Crisis

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